El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat, ending decades of Democratic control
The former public health official defeated Republican Mike Rogers in a race that drew national attention to shifting voter allegiances in the Midwest.
By Robert Ward ·
Michigan voters elected Democrat Abdul El-Sayed to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. The Associated Press called the race after counting enough counties to project a winner. This result ends a long stretch of Democratic control in the state's Senate seats.
El-Sayed, 42, defeated former Representative Mike Rogers. Rogers had lost his first Senate bid in 2024. As a result, El-Sayed becomes the first Muslim American to serve in the Senate. The 42-year-old former public health official previously led the health departments for Wayne County and the city of Detroit.
His campaign focused on the cost of living and the influence of corporate money in politics. He pledged to push for single-payer healthcare. While not a democratic socialist, he attracted support from prominent figures on the political left. His approach resonated with younger and infrequent voters in this perennial battleground state.
The path to the general election was contentious. In the primary, El-Sayed narrowly defeated Representative Haley Stevens by about one percentage point. That race occurred despite endorsements from Michigan heavyweights like Governor Gretchen Whitmer and retiring Senator Gary Peters for Stevens. El-Sayed also faced criticism for his positions on Israel and his campaign with streamer Hasan Piker.
Stevens reversed her stance in the final days of the general election. She initially said she would support the Democratic ticket but later endorsed Rogers. Polls showed a tight race with Rogers, even though Democrats had held the seat since 1979.
Rogers campaigned with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. Trump had targeted El-Sayed with Islamophobic rhetoric during the campaign. Rogers had previously embraced claims about election fraud but later tried to distance himself from some of the president's policies, including the war in Iran.
El-Sayed first ran for office in 2018 in a bid for governor that did not succeed. He now enters the Senate with plans to be a prominent voice. His presence in the chamber will shape Democratic strategy as the party prepares for the 2028 presidential nominating process, where Michigan holds a prime position.
