Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed said Democrats must demonstrate they can govern effectively after their midterm election wins, framing the results as a starting point rather than a mandate of public approval.
In a Nov. 5 interview with CNN, El-Sayed stated that the party’s victories should be considered ‘the floor’ rather than proof that voters fully support Democratic policies. He argued that Democrats now have two years to prove they deserve the trust placed in them by the electorate.
‘We’ve proven what we can get. Now the question is, can we govern like we deserve it?’ El-Sayed said. He emphasized that the party’s wins were largely a rejection of former President Donald Trump and his policies, rather than an endorsement of Democratic governance. ‘That’s the choice that we are going to face,’ he added.
El-Sayed identified corporate funding as a key obstacle to earning public trust, stating that voters remain skeptical because Democrats are often funded by the same interests as Republicans. He questioned whether the party could ‘cut the cord’ from corporate money and prioritize policies benefiting working-class Americans.
‘Can we actually cut the cord that we’ve had to corporate money and start governing like we give a damn about working people?’ he said. ‘That’s the choice we got in the next two years.’
El-Sayed also committed to proving his own alignment with his campaign promises, stating he has six years to demonstrate his commitment to his stated values.
Addressing concerns about winning over Michiganders who voted against Trump rather than for Democrats, El-Sayed emphasized the importance of effective governance. He described his role as serving all constituents, including those who did not vote for him, and pledged to earn their trust through tangible results.
‘The seat belongs to Michigan, not to me,’ he said. ‘And the way you govern well is to make sure that even people who didn’t vote for you, at the end of your time, will come up and be like, hey, that person, they did what they said they were going to do.’
In a separate interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, El-Sayed struck a more conciliatory tone toward Trump, expressing a willingness to work with the former president on shared policy priorities. ‘I’m willing to work with anyone,’ he said, arguing that Trump’s political influence should not prevent lawmakers from pursuing common ground.
El-Sayed’s remarks reflect a strategic shift following a campaign that frequently clashed with Trump and his allies. His comments suggest an openness to bipartisan collaboration despite past disagreements.