Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat, becoming first Muslim American in the chamber
The 42-year-old former public health official defeated Republican Mike Rogers in a contest that drew national attention to the party's leftward shift.
By Alessia Romano ·
Abdul El-Sayed has won the U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, according to an Associated Press call announced on Tuesday. The victory gives him a seat in the chamber and makes him the first Muslim American to serve in the Senate. He defeated former Representative Mike Rogers in a race that served as a major test for the Democratic Party's direction.
El-Sayed, 42, is a Michigan native who previously ran the health departments for Wayne County and Detroit. His campaign focused on lowering the cost of living, establishing single-payer healthcare, and limiting corporate influence in politics. He sought to energize young and infrequent voters who had been driving turnout in recent primary contests.
The path to the general election was marked by internal party conflict. In the primary, El-Sayed defeated Representative Haley Stevens by approximately one percentage point. That result came despite endorsements for Stevens from Governor Gretchen Whitmer and retiring Senator Gary Peters. Stevens later reversed her position and endorsed Rogers in the final days of the general election campaign.
El-Sayed faced criticism for his stance on Israel, including remarks made after a truck-ramming attack at a synagogue preschool in the Detroit area. He apologized for those comments and continued campaigning with support from prominent left-wing figures, including streamer Hasan Piker. These dynamics highlighted tensions within the Democratic coalition as the party navigates its identity after two years in the political wilderness.
Rogers, who lost his first Senate bid in 2024, received an early endorsement from President Trump. The President used the campaign to target El-Sayed with Islamophobic rhetoric. Rogers embraced some of Trump's claims about election fraud, a position he had previously rejected after the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. As November approached, Rogers attempted to distance himself from the President's policies, including the war in Iran.
El-Sayed signaled his intent to be a prominent voice in the Senate. His win in Michigan is strategically important for Democrats, as the state holds a prime position in the 2028 presidential nominating process. The outcome offers a clear data point on how an anti-establishment candidate performs in a perennial Midwest battleground.
