Abdul El-Sayed becomes first Muslim US Senator after Michigan victory
The Democratic candidate defeated Republican Mike Rogers in a closely watched contest for Michigan's open Senate seat.
Abdul El-Sayed has become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate after defeating Republican candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan. According to Moneycontrol and Hindustan Times, the 42-year-old Democrat won the contest for the state's open Senate seat.
During his victory speech in Detroit, El-Sayed addressed US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. He noted the irony that Vance is constitutionally required to administer his oath of office in January. El-Sayed also told Trump that once the swearing-in is complete, the President could refer to him as Senator.
The campaign saw significant outside spending, with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spending nearly $30 million to oppose him. El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, ran on a progressive platform focusing on universal healthcare, economic affordability, and removing outside money from elections.
The former director of the Detroit Health Department previously served in Wayne County's health and human services department. He holds a medical degree from Columbia University and a doctorate from Oxford. He has never held elected office prior to this victory.
El-Sayed's wife, Sarah Jukaku, is an Indian American psychiatrist whose family traces its ancestry to Bhatkal, Karnataka. El-Sayed has previously spoken about the influence of his wife's South Indian culture on his life.
