Abdul El-Sayed becomes first Muslim senator in US history

Abdul El-Sayed, a 42-year-old Democratic physician, was elected as the first Muslim senator in U.S. history on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, defeating Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan by 51.8% to 46.2% of the vote. El-Sayed, born in the U.S. to Egyptian parents, secured the Democrats' first Senate victory in Michigan in over 30 years as part of a broader Democratic sweep of both congressional chambers. His campaign focused on universal healthcare and medical debt elimination, though he faced repeated attacks over his faith. A former Detroit health department director with degrees from Columbia and Oxford, El-Sayed previously lost a 2018 gubernatorial primary. He was supported by Barack Obama in the race's final stretch and is married to psychiatrist Sarah Jukaku.