Desk Report | dawah24.com
Democrat Dr. Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat in the midterm elections, becoming the first Muslim ever elected to the United States Senate.
The Associated Press called the race for El-Sayed at 2:27 a.m. local time on Wednesday, November 4. He defeated former Republican congressman and former FBI agent Mike Rogers. With about three-quarters of the votes counted, El-Sayed had 51.8 percent to Rogers' 46.2 percent.
El-Sayed declared victory before the AP call, telling cheering supporters in Detroit, "Michigan, we did it."
A Hard-Fought Race
The seat opened when Democratic Senator Gary Peters chose not to seek reelection. In the Democratic primary, El-Sayed narrowly defeated Congresswoman Haley Stevens by about one percentage point, even though party heavyweights Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Peters had backed his opponent.
The general election was equally intense. It was one of the most expensive and closely watched contests of the 2026 midterms. Vice President JD Vance personally campaigned against him in Michigan.
Who Is Abdul El-Sayed?
Born in southeast Michigan, El-Sayed studied at the University of Michigan. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University and a second doctorate from Oxford University.
He has served as executive director of Detroit's Health Department, as an assistant professor at Columbia University, and as director of the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services. In 2018, he ran for governor of Michigan but lost the Democratic primary to Whitmer.
During his campaign, he focused on universal healthcare, lowering the cost of living, and taxing the wealthy. Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed him from the start.
El-Sayed lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife Sarah and their two daughters.
A Historic Milestone
El-Sayed is not only the first Muslim senator but also the first Democratic physician to serve in the Senate since 1969. According to U.S. media, his victory shows that progressive candidates can win even in swing states.
