Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Seat to Become US History’s First Muslim Senator

Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Seat in Historic 2026 Midterms

Abdul El-Sayed won the United States Senate election in Michigan during the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, making history as the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, CNN Indonesia reported.

El-Sayed defeated Republican candidate Mike Rogers, a former U.S. House member backed by Donald Trump, according to reporting by Kompas.com. El-Sayed, a physician and former health department director in Detroit and Wayne County born in Michigan to Egyptian immigrant parents, focused his campaign on healthcare and the cost of living for Michigan residents.

Haley Stevens Backed Republican Mike Rogers After Primary Defeat

During the primary season in August 2026, El-Sayed defeated U.S. Representative Haley Stevens. Kompas.id reported that Stevens spent a significant amount on her campaign—with a substantial portion contributed by groups affiliated with AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying organization—while El-Sayed spent approximately 7 million dollars.

Bernie Sanders noted that AIPAC poured substantial funds into attempting to block El-Sayed, according to Minanews.net. Days before the midterm election, Haley Stevens announced her decision to support Republican candidate Mike Rogers instead of El-Sayed. Stevens stated that El-Sayed made it clear she was not welcome in his campaign. Senior Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer publicly condemned Stevens’ decision, with Pelosi calling it a dangerous betrayal of healthcare, freedom, and Michigan families, as reported by Kompas.id.

Attacks from Donald Trump and El-Sayed's Response

Throughout the campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly attacked El-Sayed, calling him harsh and mocking his middle name while speaking at a campaign event in South Carolina on October 29, 2026, according to Kompas.com. Trump and other Republican figures questioned El-Sayed’s background and attempted to link him to extremist groups.

El-Sayed responded to the attacks with skepticism, denying any connection to extremists. As quoted by Kompas.com from The Hill, El-Sayed stated:

I do not care how he pronounces my name. I do not even care if he remembers my full name. Because he can start calling me ‘senator’ after November.

Regarding Stevens’ endorsement of his opponent, El-Sayed maintained that he was unconcerned by the political maneuver, telling Kompas.id that he was entirely focused on policy and the millions of voters rather than intra-party fallout.

January 2027 Congressional Opening

El-Sayed will assume his duties when the new U.S. Congress convenes in January 2027, taking the Senate seat previously held by Democratic Senator Gary Peters.