Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Race, Becomes First Muslim Elected to US Senate

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s 2026 US Senate race, defeating Republican Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. He will succeed retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters. El-Sayed, a 41-year-old physician and public health expert, had never held elected office before this race. In his victory speech, he said, "Tonight we can turn that inshallah into alhamdulillah," referencing his historic win in the key swing state. Born in Michigan to an Egyptian immigrant father, El-Sayed studied at Oxford and Columbia. He previously served as Detroit’s health director and finished second in Michigan’s 2018 gubernatorial primary before winning the Senate seat in 2026.