Abdul El-Sayed becomes first Muslim elected to US Senate from Michigan
The Democrat won the seat in the 2026 midterm elections, marking a historic breakthrough for the party's progressive wing.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan on Tuesday, November 4, 2026, according to media projections, according to The Hindu. The 42-year-old victory makes him the first Muslim ever elected to the upper chamber of the United States Congress.
El-Sayed defeated Republican candidate Mike Rogers in a closely contested race. His win allows the Democratic Party to retain the seat previously held by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters and contributes to the party gaining control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.
The campaign involved significant rhetoric regarding El-Sayed's religious identity. Republican opponent Mike Rogers alleged El-Sayed had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which El-Sayed denied. Bhaskar English reported that President Donald Trump also questioned his background, calling him a "jihadist."
Democrats described these attacks as Islamophobic tropes. El-Sayed responded by stating that his opponents sought to create division instead of tackling the increasing prices of groceries and petrol.
A former public health official, El-Sayed ran on a progressive platform. His campaign focused on lowering living costs for working families, providing affordable housing, and reducing the influence of corporations and billionaires in politics.
El-Sayed previously served in roles including leading the Wayne County Department of Health, Human & Veterans Services. He holds medical and doctoral degrees from Columbia University and Oxford University.
