Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed has made history after winning Michigan’s United States Senate race, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
El-Sayed defeated Republican candidate and former congressman Mike Rogers in the closely contested election held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, according to media projections.
His victory preserves the Senate seat previously held by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters and marks a major milestone for Muslim representation in American politics.
The 42 year old Egyptian American is a medical doctor and former public health official who built his campaign around reducing the cost of living, expanding healthcare access and limiting the influence of wealthy corporations and political donors.
One of his major campaign proposals was Medicare for All, a government funded healthcare programme aimed at providing broader access to medical services.
Born in Rochester Hills, Michigan, to Egyptian immigrant parents, El-Sayed studied at the University of Michigan before earning a doctorate in public health from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He later obtained his medical degree from Columbia University.
He served as Detroit’s health director from 2015 to 2017 and later headed the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services between 2023 and 2025.
Before securing the Senate seat, El-Sayed defeated Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens in the party’s August 2026 primary, setting up a contest against Rogers.
His campaign attracted support from prominent progressive politicians, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
However, the race was marked by controversy surrounding his Muslim faith and his criticism of US military support for Israel.
President Donald Trump and some Republican figures attacked El-Sayed over his religious background and alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood. He denied the allegations, which Reuters reported were unsupported by evidence.
El-Sayed also faced criticism over his position on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which he described as genocide, and his opposition to unconditional American military assistance to the country.
Despite the controversies, he secured victory over Rogers, who had received backing from Trump and other Republican figures.
In his victory remarks in Detroit, El-Sayed thanked Michigan voters and expressed excitement about representing the state in Washington.
He also addressed Trump, who had repeatedly struggled with the pronunciation of his name during the campaign, saying that after Vice President JD Vance swears him in, the president could simply call him “Senator”.
El-Sayed’s election marks a historic moment for Muslim Americans, who have previously been represented in the US House of Representatives but had never secured an elected seat in the Senate.
He is expected to assume office when the new Congress convenes in January 2027.
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