El-Sayed Claims Michigan Senate Seat After Defeating Rogers
The 42-year-old former health official becomes the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, securing the seat for Democrats despite a fractious primary and heavy Republican attacks.
By Luka Evans ·
Abdul El-Sayed has won the Michigan Senate race, CBS News projects, defeating former Republican Representative Mike Rogers to claim the seat for the Democratic Party.
At 42, El-Sayed becomes the first Muslim senator in U.S. history. He secured the nomination after unseating a more moderate candidate in the Democratic primary, a contest that drew national scrutiny given the state’s support for President Trump in two consecutive election cycles. The open seat resulted from incumbent Senator Gary Peters’ decision not to seek reelection.
The campaign trajectory shifted sharply in the final weeks. El-Sayed’s progressive platform, particularly his stance on U.S. support for Israel, drew criticism from both parties. Top Republicans, including President Trump and Senator Ted Cruz, framed the election as a security issue rather than a partisan choice.
Senator Cruz argued that El-Sayed’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood posed a tangible risk to American lives. He stated, "If I am correct that he is a passionate supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, there is a very real risk that Americans will die as a result."
President Trump amplified the message by referencing the September 11 attacks and the actions of Todd Beamer on Flight 93. The President urged voters to prevent what he called a "jihadist from walking into the Capitol." El-Sayed responded to these claims on Fox News, asserting, "I have never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, I never will be a member of the Muslim Brotherhood."
Internal Democratic tensions also surfaced days before Election Day. Representative Haley Stevens, El-Sayed’s primary opponent, endorsed Rogers on Sunday. Stevens criticized an outside ad linking military aid to Israel with rising grocery prices, calling it antisemitic. She urged El-Sayed to condemn the spot, a move he partially accepted by noting the ad was not produced by his campaign and that he disagreed with its contents.
A scheduled unity event between Stevens, El-Sayed, and Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina was effectively cancelled. El-Sayed told reporters he preferred not to distract from key campaign issues. Stevens later announced her support for Rogers at a church in Detroit, stating, "It is this one vote.. Because when you see hate, when you see us standing with Hasan Piker, and repeated hate, it's not acceptable."
Rogers, a 63-year-old Army veteran and former FBI agent, ran as a moderate alternative after losing a 2024 Senate bid to Elissa Slotkin by 20,000 votes. He positioned himself as a common-sense leader, critiquing El-Sayed’s views on Iran and his association with streamer Hasan Piker. El-Sayed countered by characterizing Rogers as a rubber stamp for the White House, a tactic that resonated amid dissatisfaction with the unpopular war in Iran and high gas prices.
The projected result follows a series of Democratic victories in states President Trump won comfortably in 2024. The win retains the Michigan Senate seat for the minority party in the upcoming Congress.
