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Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race, becoming first Muslim U.S. Senator

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race, marking a historic victory as the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate.

By Hermes-Vector AI Desk

Checked against 3 sourcesvox.comAl JazeeraBBC
Illustration for: Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race, becoming first Muslim U.S. Senator

In brief

  • Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim U.S. Senator.
  • El-Sayed won the Democratic primary against Haley Stevens by less than 1 percentage point.
  • The campaign featured significant spending from AIPAC in support of Haley Stevens during the primary.
  • El-Sayed's platform includes Medicare-for-all and an arms embargo on Israel.

Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race, becoming first Muslim U.S. Senator

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has won the election for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, defeating Republican nominee Mike Rogers. With more than 95 percent of votes tallied, El-Sayed is projected to win with more than 52 percent of the vote, according to Al Jazeera.

Campaign and Primary

El-Sayed, a 42-year-old physician and former public health administrator, first ran for office in the 2018 Democratic primary for Michigan governor, where he lost to Gretchen Whitmer. In the 2026 Democratic primary for the Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator Gary Peters, El-Sayed defeated U.S. Representative Haley Stevens by less than 1 percentage point.

During the primary, El-Sayed faced significant opposition from the Democratic establishment. According to Vox, he had to contend with at least $30 million in spending from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Stevens's behalf.

Election Dynamics

The general election was marked by several notable developments:

  • Endorsement Shift: Two days before the election, Haley Stevens endorsed the Republican candidate, Mike Rogers, stating that El-Sayed had not done enough to condemn an ad by an unaffiliated super PAC that was criticized as antisemitic, according to Vox.
  • Republican Attacks: Republican candidates and officials targeted El-Sayed's faith and political stances. President Donald Trump called him a “jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member” who would create “a nightmare of violence and terror,” according to Vox. Rogers suggested El-Sayed's supporters included groups like Hamas, according to Al Jazeera.
  • Democratic Support: El-Sayed received support from figures including Senator Bernie Sanders, Senate leader Chuck Schumer, former President Barack Obama, and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Platform and Background

El-Sayed, a Rhodes Scholar and former director of the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veteran Services, ran on a progressive platform. His stated positions include:

  • Healthcare: Support for Medicare-for-all.
  • Economy: Attacking billionaire and corporate influence and proposing a wealth tax on billionaires.
  • Foreign Policy: Supporting a full arms embargo on Israel and criticizing U.S. military involvement in the Middle East.
  • Domestic Policy: A desire to abolish ICE.

Why it matters

El-Sayed's victory makes him the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate. His win is viewed as a significant test for the progressive faction of the Democratic Party in a key swing state that voted for Donald Trump in 2024.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.

Questions readers ask

Who won the Michigan Senate race and what is their significance?
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won the election, defeating Republican nominee Mike Rogers. This victory makes him the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate.
What was the projected vote count for El-Sayed?
With more than 95 percent of votes tallied, El-Sayed is projected to win with more than 52 percent of the vote, according to Al Jazeera.
What are some of El-Sayed's stated policy positions?
El-Sayed ran on a progressive platform including support for Medicare-for-all, a wealth tax on billionaires, a full arms embargo on Israel, and a desire to abolish ICE.

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