When Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive Democrat who was declared the winner of the Senate primary in Michigan today, strode to the lectern for his victory speech, he did not exactly look like himself.

After all, he was wearing a suit.

It was a notable departure from the tight, black V-neck T-shirt and jeans that had become El-Sayed’s uniform on the campaign trail — a dressed-down look reflective of the dressing down he promised to give the establishment, a point of differentiation with his opponent, Representative Haley Stevens, and unquestionably part of his communications strategy.

As a result, even though the T-shirt and jeans weren’t on the candidate, they were still part of the conversation.

It’s one thing to promise change. It’s another to put your wardrobe where your words are — and then to make it a talking point. Not to mention a quasi slogan.

“Minimal look, maximal politics” is the way El-Sayed described his attire before the election to Sophie Strauss, a Michigan self-titled “stylist for regular people” on an Instagram reel-cum-promotional appearance.