Abdul El-Sayed defeats Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate contest
The 42-year-old former health official becomes the first Muslim American to serve in the U.S. Senate after winning a pivotal Midwest battleground.
By Bianca Herrera ·
The Associated Press called the U.S. Senate race in Michigan for Democrat Abdul El-Sayed on Tuesday.
El-Sayed defeated former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers to secure the seat. Rogers lost his first Senate bid in 2024. El-Sayed, 42, will be the first Muslim American to hold a Senate position.
The candidate, a former public health official for Wayne County and the city of Detroit, built his campaign on anger over living costs and political corruption. He prioritized single-payer healthcare and reducing corporate influence in elections. Although he is not a democratic socialist, his run received backing from prominent figures on the political left.
The primary election was contentious. El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens by about one percentage point. That contest occurred despite endorsements from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and retiring Sen. Gary Peters for Stevens. El-Sayed’s positions on Israel drew criticism from some Jewish voters, particularly after comments regarding a truck-ramming attack at a synagogue preschool in metro Detroit. He later apologized for those remarks. He also campaigned with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker during the primary phase.
In the final days of the general election, Stevens switched her support to Rogers after initially stating she would back the Democratic ticket. Polls indicated a tight contest between El-Sayed and Rogers. Democrats have held the Michigan Senate seat since 1979.
El-Sayed criticized Rogers and President Donald Trump for using Islamophobic rhetoric during the campaign. Trump endorsed Rogers early in the race. Rogers supported some of the president's claims regarding election fraud, though he later distanced himself from certain policies, including the war in Iran.
El-Sayed first entered politics in 2018 with an unsuccessful bid for governor. As Democrats discuss their party's direction, El-Sayed has positioned himself as a leading voice. Michigan plays a key role in the 2028 presidential nominating process.
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