Abdul El-Sayed Wins in Michigan, Becomes First Muslim Senator
The 42-year-old Democrat captured Michigan’s seat left by Gary Peters after defeating Republican Mike Rogers.
Abdul El-Sayed won the U.S. Senate election in Michigan and made history as the first Muslim elected to the Senate. The Egyptian-American Democrat defeated Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the midterm election on 3 November 2026. El-Sayed captured the seat left by Democratic Senator Gary Peters, who retired. His victory stood out amid midterm results that also produced several new records in U.S. politics. El-Sayed, 42, was previously known as a former public health official in Detroit and Wayne County. His campaign took place amid internal Democratic debate over health care, economic priorities and U.S. support for Israel.