‘We've to win by massive numbers’: El-Sayed flags Trump election denial threat
WASHINGTON, DC: Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed said on Sunday, October 11, that Democrats must “win by massive numbers” in the upcoming November midterm elections to prevent President Donald Trump and his Republican allies from disputing the results.
El-Sayed made the remarks a day after Trump again repeated his false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen during a rally in Tennessee. El-Sayed also raised concerns about his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, saying that the former congressman had cast doubt on his own previous election defeat.
El-Sayed says Democrats must win decisively as Trump repeats 2020 election claims
Speaking on NBC’s 'Meet the Press', El-Sayed said he was concerned about the possibility of election results being challenged if Democrats performed strongly in November.
“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.”
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed told NBC: "We've gotta win by massive numbers... Donald Trump has already threatened to do what he did in 2020, which is to deny the outcome of an election."
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) October 11, 2026
Trump again repeated his allegations about the 2020 election during a rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Saturday, October 10, telling supporters that “three times I won the election. I got screwed the second time because they cheated. They cheated. We cannot let that happen again.”
I AGREE WITH DONALD TRUMP. HE DID WIN THE ELECTION 3 TIMES. 2ND TIME THEY CHEATED WE HAVE TO STOP THE STEAL AGAIN MAKE IT TOO BIG TO RIG FOLLOW ME, THE NEXT DROP WILL BE SHOCKING. https://t.co/swcoN0mt9v
— Alex Mary (@Mary8998014880) October 11, 2026
Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to former President Joe Biden. His claims of widespread election fraud were rejected in multiple legal proceedings, including a Michigan case in which a judge described the allegations as “nothing but speculation and conjecture.”
Reporter: Are you committed to accepting the results of the midterms, no matter what party wins? Trump: What do you think? Of course I will. But we don't want cheating. We don't want cheating. We don't want cheating. Do you understand me? https://t.co/jnuf8iM3c9
— Tabz (@TabzLIVE) October 10, 2026
When Trump was asked on Saturday whether he would accept the results of the November midterms regardless of which party won, he said that “of course I will. But we don’t want cheating.”
El-Sayed questions Mike Rogers' past election claims
El-Sayed said his concerns also extended to Rogers, the Republican Senate candidate he is challenging in Michigan.
Rogers lost the 2024 Senate election to Democrat Elissa Slotkin after initially conceding the race, but later made claims about alleged fraudulent ballots in Detroit.
“The guy I’m running against, he insinuates that he didn’t actually lose in 2020,” 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.”
When questioned about whether Trump and Rogers might challenge the outcome of his race if it were close, El-Sayed said, “I am concerned that Donald Trump and Mike Rogers are not committed to the institution of our democracy.”
Michigan Senate race puts Democrats' economic priorities in focus
El-Sayed made the remarks as Democrats sought to regain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections. The Cook Political Report recently revised its Senate projections, saying a Democratic majority was within reach. Polling has also shown Democratic candidates competitive in several states that Trump won in 2024.
El-Sayed said his campaign was focused on economic issues, including expanding access to health care through “Medicare for All” and challenging corporate influence in politics. He said he had encountered former Trump voters who supported his candidacy because of those priorities.
