Democrat Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Race, Makes History as First Muslim Senator
He won after a campaign centered on affordability, Medicare for All and opposition to heavy outside spending.
- On Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's U.S. Senate race, becoming the first Muslim American elected to the U.S. Senate.
- The 42-year-old epidemiologist ran on a progressive platform including "Medicare for All" after emerging from a contentious primary against Representative Haley Stevens that drew nearly $60 million in outside spending.
- Amid Islamophobic attacks from President Donald Trump, who repeatedly called El-Sayed a "dangerous jihadist," Stevens defected two days before the election to endorse Rogers, citing disagreements over his criticism of Israel.
- Speaking to supporters in Detroit early Wednesday, El-Sayed told the crowd, "You took a chance on the unlikeliest of candidates." The victory extends a GOP drought for the seat dating to 1994.
- As one of the youngest members of the Senate Democratic caucus, El-Sayed will prioritize healthcare reform and ending military aid to Israel during his six-year term, positioning progressives to shape party policy.
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606 Articles
CAIR, CAIR-MI Congratulate Sen-Elect Abdul El-Sayed on Defeating the ‘Politics of Hate’ to Become First Muslim Senator
Muslim civil rights and advocacy groups praise people of Michigan for rejecting hate and Muslim voters for record turnout The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and its Michigan chapter, CAIR-Michigan, today congratulated Dr. Abdul El-Sayed on his historic election to the U.S. Senate, making him the […]
Michigan’s Progressive Democrat Defeats Republican Mike Rogers in a Very Controversial Controversy
Abdul El-Sayed won as the first Muslim senator in the United States despite Trump attacks.
Son of Egyptian immigrants, the 42-year-old epidemiologist prevailed in Michigan with a platform focused on cost-of-living reduction and the creation of a universal health system; Trump had called it “jihadist”
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