Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat after tight race
The 42-year-old Democrat becomes the first Muslim American in the Senate, defeating former Rep. Mike Rogers in a state Democrats have held since 1979.
By Jason Wood ·
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has won the U.S. Senate election in Michigan, according to an Associated Press race call. The result gives his party a key win in its effort to reclaim control of the Senate. El-Sayed defeated former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in a contest that drew national attention for testing the appeal of an antiestablishment left candidate in a Midwest battleground.
At 42, El-Sayed becomes the first Muslim American to serve in the U.S. Senate. A Michigan native, he previously served as a public health official in Wayne County and the city of Detroit. His political career began in 2018 with an unsuccessful run for governor. He is not a democratic socialist, a label that attached to other insurgent candidates in this year's primaries, though he received backing from prominent left-wing figures.
El-Sayed’s campaign focused on high cost of living and corruption. He pushed for single-payer healthcare and measures to limit corporate influence in politics. These themes helped mobilize young voters and those who rarely participate in elections. During the general election campaign, he accused his opponent and other Republicans, including President Trump, of using Islamophobic rhetoric against him.
The path to the general election was contentious. In the Democratic primary, El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens by about one percentage point. That race occurred despite opposition from Michigan political heavyweights, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and retiring Sen. Gary Peters, who supported Stevens. El-Sayed also faced criticism over his comments on Israel, including an apology issued after a truck-ramming attack at a synagogue preschool in metro Detroit.
Rogers had lost his first Senate bid in 2024. In the 2026 race, he initially embraced some of President Trump’s claims about election fraud, despite having condemned them after the 2021 Capitol attack. Trump endorsed Rogers early in the campaign. As November approached, Rogers attempted to distance himself from several of the president’s policies, including the war in Iran. Stevens, who initially planned to support the Democratic ticket, eventually endorsed Rogers in the closing days of the general election.
Polls in the final weeks showed a tight race, even though Democrats had held the Michigan Senate seat continuously since 1979. The outcome leaves El-Sayed in a position of influence as the party debates its direction after two years out of power. Michigan holds a prominent place in the 2028 presidential nominating process, a factor El-Sayed has acknowledged in his plans to be a visible voice within the Senate.
Source: WUSF Public Media
