Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Race, Becoming First Muslim Senator

Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat, won Michigan's open Senate race on Tuesday, defeating former Representative Mike Rogers and becoming the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, according to the Associated Press. The victory keeps the seat in Democratic hands and denies Republicans a key opportunity to blunt the Democratic wave in the midterm elections. El-Sayed, 42, the son of Egyptian immigrants, campaigned on an expansive progressive platform including Medicare for All and higher taxes on the wealthy, while also being one of the Senate's most outspoken critics of Israel. His win came in a closely divided battleground state despite a bruising campaign marked by Islamophobic attacks from Republicans and a rift among Democrats over Israel. The race was defined by personal attacks, including former Representative Haley Stevens endorsing Rogers days before the election, and significant spending from pro-Israel groups opposing El-Sayed. His victory offers Democrats a counterpoint to arguments that progressive candidates cannot compete in battleground states.