Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat, becoming first Muslim elected to U.S. Senate

AKIPRESS.COM –

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won the U.S. Senate race in Michigan on Tuesday, becoming the first Muslim elected to the upper chamber of Congress, Associated Press reported.

The 42-year-old former public health official of Egyptian descent defeated Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman and FBI agent backed by President Donald Trump. The victory allows Democrats to retain the seat vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters.

The campaign featured sharp attacks from Republicans, including Trump, who accused El-Sayed of posing a national security threat. The race also stirred controversy within the Democratic Party after Rep. Haley Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the August primary, broke party pledges to endorse Rogers two days before the election. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the endorsement, and Michigan Democratic Party leadership expelled Stevens from party ranks.

A progressive candidate, El-Sayed campaigned on expanding government healthcare, curbing corporate influence in politics, and reforming foreign policy, including opposing unconditional military aid to Israel. His victory holds strategic weight in Michigan, a crucial swing state with a prominent Arab American population, and marks a major win for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.