Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, securing a victory for Democrats in a race marked by significant spending and intense rhetoric.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has won the U.S. Senate election in Michigan, defeating Republican Mike Rogers, according to a race call by the Associated Press. The victory makes El-Sayed the first Muslim American to serve in the Senate.
The race was characterized by intense personal attacks and high spending. El-Sayed, a 42-year-old former public health official and epidemiologist, ran on a progressive platform that included Medicare for All, higher taxes on the wealthy, and curbing the influence of corporate money.
Republicans and Donald Trump targeted El-Sayed with rhetoric regarding his faith. Trump referred to El-Sayed as a "jihadist" and a member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, and suggested he would need to walk through a metal detector to enter the Senate. Rogers also raised allegations regarding El-Sayed's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which El-Sayed has denied.
El-Sayed's path to the general election included a narrow primary victory over Representative Haley Stevens, winning by approximately 1 percentage point. The primary was marked by significant spending from the pro-Israel group AIPAC, which, through its Super Pac United Democracy Project, spent roughly $30 million to support Stevens.
In a significant development during the final days of the general election, Stevens endorsed Rogers. Stevens stated her decision was related to El-Sayed's positions on Israel and his campaign's interactions with controversial figures, saying, "When you see hate, when you see us standing with Hasan Piker, and repeated hate, it's not acceptable."
The election occurred amid concerns over the cost of living and foreign conflicts. El-Sayed campaigned on the slogan: "Money out of politics, money in your pockets and Medicare for All." He also criticized U.S. military aid to Israel, describing the war in Gaza as a "genocide."
Rogers, a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, attempted to distance himself from some of the Trump administration's policies in the closing weeks, specifically regarding tariffs and the war in Iran. Rogers stated in an interview with "NBC Nightly News," "I’ve been a targeted and temporary tariff guy to correct those things. I thought the broad sweep was too much, and I’d like to see it wrapped up."
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.
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