El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat after GOP attack on his faith
The Democrat defeated Mike Rogers by seven points in a race marked by intense scrutiny of the candidate's Muslim background.
By Takeshi Davidson ·
Michigan voters chose Abdul El-Sayed over Republican challenger Mike Rogers in the state's U.S. Senate race. El-Sayed, who will become the nation's first Muslim senator, held a seven percentage point lead with approximately 97% of the vote counted. The Associated Press called the race for the Democrat on Wednesday, giving the party a substantial majority in the Senate.
El-Sayed told the Associated Press on Wednesday that voters rejected a campaign he described as hateful and spiteful. He said Republicans focused on his name and face for months rather than discussing policy issues. President Donald Trump had repeatedly called El-Sayed a jihadist during the campaign. El-Sayed noted that every county in the state shifted toward Democrats compared to 2024 results.
The candidate, who was born in the United States to parents who immigrated from Egypt, said the morning was a moment of reflection for him and his two young daughters. His three-year-old does not yet understand the election, while his eight-year-old views the event as normal. El-Sayed said his children are now part of a historical moment.
Rogers issued a statement conceding the defeat, but he had not spoken with El-Sayed as of Wednesday afternoon. This lack of communication stood in contrast to the 2024 race, where then-Rep. Elissa Slotkin called Mike Rogers to concede before the Associated Press officially called the race. The AP Voter Poll, which surveyed more than 4,500 voters in the state, showed that Michigan Senate voters were roughly split on whether El-Sayed’s views were too extreme.
El-Sayed’s path to this victory included a double-digit defeat in the 2018 gubernatorial election. He later upset an establishment-backed candidate in the primary despite being outspent by tens of millions of dollars. He credited his campaign strategy, stating that old-fashioned politics can work if one is willing to do the work. He characterized his campaign as a rejection of a narrative that had nothing to say about the issues.
Looking ahead to his time in Washington, El-Sayed said his victory is not the final success. He defined success as what he will be able to do with the seat. He declined to commit to supporting Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer for another term, noting he did not know who else might run. Schumer is expected to retain the leadership position. El-Sayed added that he believes new leadership is needed and that people are hungry for it.
