KOZHIKODE: For Kozhikode-based businessman Jukaku Abdul Majeed, the election of Abdul El-Sayed as the first Muslim to enter the US Senate is more than a landmark moment in American history. It is a deeply personal triumph, as El-Sayed is the husband of his niece, Sarah Jukaku.
Of Egyptian descent, El-Sayed’s historic victory has brought immense happiness to the extended family, which watched the election unfold with prayers and anticipation. Majeed recalled that when he spoke to Sarah just a week before the result, she had sounded far from confident about her husband’s chances. “Muslims constitute only around 2.5% of the US population. We never imagined that the outcome would be in his favour, given the circumstances. His victory came as a blessing,” Majeed said.
The road to victory, he said, was anything but easy. El-Sayed faced a fiercely contested campaign, relying largely on grassroots support and public contributions rather than money-driven political mobilisation. His forthright positions on Palestine also attracted intense criticism and allegations from political opponents. Overcoming these challenges to secure the Senate seat made the achievement all the more significant, Majeed said.
The road to victory, he said, was a nything but easy. El-Sayed faced a fiercely contested campaign, relying largely on grassroots support and public contributions rather than money-driven political mobilisation. His forthright positions on Palestine also attracted intense criticism and allegations from political opponents. Overcoming these challenges to secure the Senate seat made the achievement all the more significant, Majeed said.
For him, the victory also signals a changing political landscape in the United States, particularly among younger generations. He believes that American voters are increasingly willing to look beyond conventional political loyalties and that this shift has opened up new possibilities for minority representation.
“There was a time when winning an election without Israeli support or financial backing was considered extremely difficult. But today’s younger generation is different. This change has worked in favour of Muslims as well,” he said.
The family connection stretches beyond Kozhikode to Karnataka, where Sarah’s family has deep roots. Her father, Dr Jukaku Tayeb, was born and raised in Bhatkal and graduated from Bangalore Medical College in 1976 before moving to the United States. Her grandfather, Jukaku Shamsuddin, served as deputy finance minister in the government led by B D Jatti.
Sarah and El-Sayed first met while studying at the University of Michigan and decided to marry when she was 19. The couple have two daughters.
