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Hope beat hate: Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan, becomes first Muslim U.S. senator
The progressive epidemiologist beat Mike Rogers by about 7 points after a campaign of attacks on his faith.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's open Senate race, 52.5% to 45.5% with 97% of the expected vote counted. He will be the first Muslim U.S. senator and succeeds retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
Michigan held the line — and made history. Abdul El-Sayed beat former Rep. Mike Rogers 52.5% to 45.5%, a lead of 334,868 votes with 97% of the expected vote counted, according to Exa's results page, which logged the call at 2:27 a.m. ET Wednesday. He will be the nation's first Muslim U.S. senator, The Guardian reported.
A campaign against his faith
NBC News reported that Rogers and Republican allies tried to spin El-Sayed's criticism of the Israeli government into attacks that evoked his religion, and that President Trump falsely asserted "jihadists" were gaining purchase in U.S. politics. El-Sayed has denounced and denied any ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, NBC reported.
He also overcame a last-minute defection from Rep. Haley Stevens, his defeated primary rival, who endorsed Rogers days before the election, per NBC.
The victory speech
El-Sayed did not hold back. "So Mike, enjoy your retirement," he said, per NBC News. "See, you chose hate, and Michigan chose hope."
To Vice President JD Vance: "JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January," he said, according to CBS News. And: "To AIPAC, who spent $42 million against us, thank you for giving me the opportunity to beat you twice."
On X Wednesday morning he wrote: "The many beat the money. The people beat the corporations and special interests. Hope beat hate and fear."
What he ran on
His slogan, per NBC, was "Money out of politics, money in your pockets and Medicare for All." NBC reported polling suggested that message was helping him make inroads with Trump voters, while Rogers struggled to distance himself from tariffs and the war in Iran.
The bigger picture
El-Sayed succeeds retiring Sen. Gary Peters, extending a streak in which Republicans have not won a Michigan Senate seat since 1994, NBC reported. Democrat Jocelyn Benson also won the governorship and Democrats flipped the state House for a trifecta, according to Ballotpedia.
Sources
- 2026 Michigan U.S. Senate Class II general election results — Exa Election Library
- Progressive Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race to become first Muslim US senator — The Guardian
- Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan's high-stakes Senate race — NBC News
- 2026 Senate midterm election results as Democrats win control — CBS News
- Election results, 2026 — Ballotpedia
- Post by Abdul El-Sayed on X — X