Politics
BREAKING: Abdul El-Sayed Becomes First Muslim Elected to US Senate
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has made history as the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate after defeating Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s 2026 midterm election.
The Associated Press projected El-Sayed’s victory on Wednesday, November 4, with the 42-year-old receiving 51.9 per cent of the votes against Rogers’ 46.1 per cent, based on 87 per cent of votes counted. Libertarian candidate Lydia Christensen received 1 per cent.
El-Sayed won the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters and will take office when the new Congress convenes in January 2027.
His victory followed a competitive Democratic primary in August, where he defeated Representative Haley Stevens and state Senator Mallory McMorrow to secure his party’s nomination.
He received support from prominent progressives, including Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib.
During his campaign, El-Sayed promised to make healthcare more affordable, reduce housing costs and limit the influence of wealthy donors in politics. He also criticised US military support for Israel and called for an end to unconditional American military assistance.
Born in Michigan to Egyptian immigrant parents, El-Sayed previously served as Detroit’s health director and contested the state’s governorship in 2018.
His election marks a major milestone for Muslim representation in American politics, as Muslim Americans have previously served in the House of Representatives but had never been elected to the Senate.
