Abdul El-Sayed says Democrats must win by massive numbers to counter election denial

Democrats must secure overwhelming margins in November’s midterm elections to prevent Donald Trump and his Republican allies from contesting the outcome, Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed said on Sunday.

Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, El-Sayed argued that decisive victories at the ballot box are necessary to make the vote unquestionable. His warning follows repeated efforts by Trump to cast doubt on American election integrity, having challenged his 2020 loss and recently questioned the administration of upcoming ballots.

"Donald Trump has already threatened to do what he did in 2020, which is deny the outcomes of an election," El-Sayed said. "So, yes, we have to win by massive numbers."

What happened in the Michigan Senate race

El-Sayed, who would become the first Muslim member of the US Senate if elected, is competing against Republican nominee and former representative Mike Rogers. Recent polling by the New York Times and Siena University placed El-Sayed five points ahead of Rogers, as forecasters at the Cook Political Report revised their projections to place a Democratic Senate majority within reach.

The contest has turned into one of the most abrasive and expensive of the midterm cycle. Ad-tracking firm AdImpact reported that Republicans have outspent Democrats $78m to $63m in Michigan, directing roughly $40m towards attack commercials targeting El-Sayed's progressive platform on healthcare and criminal justice.

Republican rhetoric against El-Sayed has grown increasingly personal. Trump has used derogatory language against him on social media, while Louisiana Senator John Kennedy claimed El-Sayed "sleeps in a Bin Laden jersey" during a joint appearance with Rogers. El-Sayed has hit back directly, calling Rogers a "coward" and deriding the attacks as desperate.

Who is involved and the wider stakes

Beyond personal barbs, the political fight centres on election legitimacy. During his television appearance, El-Sayed pointed to Rogers's past claims surrounding his narrow 2024 Senate defeat to Democrat Elissa Slotkin, where Rogers alleged that a vehicle delivering fraudulent ballots in Detroit altered the outcome after he had initially conceded.

"The guy I’m running against, he insinuates that he didn’t actually lose," El-Sayed said. "He talks about this mythical van that showed up in Detroit with a bunch of votes, as if he didn’t lose."

Asked whether he would accept the midterm results regardless of who wins, Trump told NBC on Saturday: "Of course I will. But we don't want cheating."

El-Sayed has simultaneously sought to broaden his coalition across Michigan, conducting over 500 town halls and events across more than 100 cities. He has campaigned heavily on universal healthcare and working-class economic protection, attempting to win back voters who previously backed Trump while smoothing over friction within his own party.

What happens next

To consolidate Democratic turnout before polling day on 3 November, high-profile national figures are set to visit the state. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is scheduled to join El-Sayed on the campaign trail, followed by former President Barack Obama on 24 October.

El-Sayed, who had published sharp criticism of Obama's civil liberties record in 2012, walked back those comments on Sunday, describing Obama as a capable leader and a "mentor" whose steady approach stands in contrast to the current political climate.