Abdul El-Sayed becomes first Muslim US Senator after Michigan win

Abdul El-Sayed has become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate, defeating Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's race. The son of Egyptian immigrants secured the seat for Democrats in a closely contested contest. Nearly 20 years earlier, in 2007, former President Bill Clinton suggested El-Sayed could run for office after a University of Michigan commencement speech. El-Sayed laughed it off, saying his name would not work politically, according to his recollection to TIME. El-Sayed, a Rhodes Scholar and Columbia-trained physician, previously ran unsuccessfully for Michigan governor in 2018. His Senate campaign focused on universal healthcare and higher taxes on the wealthy, and he drew criticism for his outspoken views on Israel.