Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Race as First Muslim Elected to the Chamber

Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan's US Senate election, defeating Republican Mike Rogers. The Associated Press called the race. Major news organisations report that he is the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.

With more than 95% of the vote counted, The New York Times reported 2,472,226 votes for El-Sayed, or 52.4%, and 2,153,444 votes for Rogers, or 45.6%. That is a lead of about 6.8 points. The election was held on 3 November 2026.

Why Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan win is a Senate first

El-Sayed, 42, is a Democrat, an epidemiologist and a former Wayne County health director. Anadolu Agency described him as Egyptian American. He will succeed retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters. NBC News noted that a Republican has not won a Michigan Senate seat since 1994, so the result keeps the seat with the Democrats.

The Associated Press, NBC News, Reuters and The Guardian reported that he is the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. Muslim Americans have already served in the House. Keith Ellison was elected to Congress in 2006, and Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar were elected in 2018. This result is described as a first for the Senate. He has won the election. Senators are sworn in when the new Congress meets, so this report is about the election result.

NBC News reported that the campaign included Islamophobic attacks linked to President Donald Trump, and that El-Sayed overcame them. Reuters reported that he rejected attacks on his faith and said they pulled attention away from the cost of living. NBC News also reported that Representative Haley Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to him, endorsed Rogers two days before election day.

Reuters reported that his campaign focused on lowering costs for working families and included Medicare for All, the government-funded health plan backed by progressives in his party.

Our verdict

Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan's US Senate race against Mike Rogers. News organisations report that he is the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.

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