Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has become the first Muslim to be elected to the US Senate after winning Michigan’s Senate race, defeating Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the 2026 midterm elections.
According to media projections, the 42-year-old former public health official secured the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters, preventing Republicans from flipping a crucial seat.
El-Sayed’s victory marks a significant breakthrough for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. He campaigned on lowering costs for working families, reducing corporate influence in politics and introducing Medicare for All, a government-funded universal healthcare programme.
His Republican opponent, 63-year-old former congressman and FBI agent Mike Rogers, had received strong backing from President Donald Trump and national Republican leaders.
During the campaign, Rogers sought to portray El-Sayed as sympathetic to Islamic extremism, citing alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed denied the allegations, which were not supported by evidence. Democrats criticised the attacks as relying on Islamophobic stereotypes.
El-Sayed also faced criticism over his opposition to US military aid to Israel and his description of Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. Rogers sought to appeal to Jewish voters concerned about his position.
However, Rogers struggled to overcome voter concerns over the economy and Trump's low approval ratings. In the final weeks of the campaign, he also distanced himself from the president over the war in Iran and trade tensions with Canada, arguing that both were driving up costs for businesses and consumers.
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