Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat, a first for US Muslims
Why it matters: The Democrat held an open seat critical to his party’s bid for Senate control in a closely fought battleground state.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s open US Senate seat, according to media projections, becoming the first Muslim elected to the chamber and preserving a key seat for Democrats in their fight for Senate control. El-Sayed, 42, defeated Republican Mike Rogers in a race shaped by Michigan’s high cost-of-living concerns and the war in Gaza. A former public health official, he ran on lowering costs, curbing corporate influence and backing Medicare for All. Rogers, a former congressman and FBI agent backed by Donald Trump, tried to portray El-Sayed as an extremist over alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties, claims El-Sayed denied and that Reuters said were unsupported by evidence. The seat was open because Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring.