Abdul El-Sayed’s sibling recalls how he helped family member with cover letter amid midterms campaign

Abdul El-Sayed’s historic victory in the 2026 US midterm elections has drawn attention not only for its political significance but also for a touching family anecdote shared by his sister, Eman Abdelhadi. In her post, Abdelhadi described how El-Sayed learned that a member of their family was preparing a cover letter (AP/X)Abdelhadi took to social media to recall how her brother made time to help a family member with a job application despite being occupied with his Senate campaign.

Her account offered a glimpse of the personal side of the newly elected senator, whose victory has made him the first Muslim American elected to the US Senate. In a post on X, Abdelhadi described how El-Sayed learned that a member of their family was preparing a cover letter.

Rather than leaving the matter for another time, he personally reviewed the document, made edits and called the relative to offer suggestions. “I want to tell you a story about my brother Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed,” she wrote.

Recalling the incident, she highlighted how he remained attentive to his family's needs even while managing the demands of a high-profile election campaign. “The best man I’ve ever met is headed for US Senate,” Abdelhadi added, expressing pride in her brother following his electoral success.

El-Sayed, a 42-year-old Democrat and former public health official, defeated Republican candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan's closely watched Senate contest, according to Associated Press projections reported on November 4.

His victory secured the seat previously held by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters. His campaign focused on issues including healthcare affordability, reducing corporate influence in politics and expanding access to universal healthcare.

The contest also attracted national attention amid heated exchanges over his political positions and Muslim identity. Addressing cheering supporters in Detroit after his victory in Michigan's US Senate race, El-Sayed expressed gratitude to voters and described his election as a historic moment.

“My name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, and I am so proud and honored to stand here as your senator-elect for the great state of Michigan,” he declared. Reflecting on his customary use of the Arabic phrase Inshallah (God willing) during the campaign, he added: “But today, tonight, we can turn that ‘Inshallah’ into an ‘Alhamdulillah’,” meaning praise be to God.

Taking aim at the criticism directed at his name and Muslim faith during the campaign, El-Sayed told supporters: “To all the parents who struggled to explain why the president openly mocks someone for their name or how they pray, let them know tomorrow that the bad guys lost.” He also reiterated his campaign's focus on healthcare, affordability and public spending, saying: “It shouldn't be this hard to pay your taxes and know that money is going to be spent on you and your kids, instead of dropping bombs on somebody else and their kids.” Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics.

She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events.

Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics.

In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World.

Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC).

She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh.

She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More