Abdul El-Sayed becomes first Muslim elected to US Senate - Prothom Alo English
Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed reacts after his victory in the US midterm elections, during an Election Night rally, in Detroit, Michigan, US, 4 November 2026.ReutersDemocrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s open US Senate seat on Tuesday, according to media projections, becoming the first Muslim elected to the chamber while preserving a crucial Democratic seat in the party’s fight for Senate control.
El-Sayed’s victory in the closely contested election marked a breakthrough for the Democratic Party’s progressive wing and denied Republicans a chance to flip the seat of retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
Supporters react to the announcement that the Democrats have taken control of the US House at an Election Night watch party for Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during the US midterm elections in Detroit, Michigan, US, 3 November 2026.REUTERSEl-Sayed, 42, a former public health official, focused on lowering costs for working families and reducing corporate influence in politics. His platform included Medicare for All, a government-funded universal healthcare program championed by progressives in his party.
Republicans held a 53-47 Senate majority going into Tuesday’s midterm elections, with Democrats needing a net gain of four seats to take control.
His opponent Mike Rogers, 63, a former congressman and FBI agent, entered the race with strong backing from Trump and national Republicans and had sought to cast El-Sayed as a radical candidate sympathetic to Islamic extremism through alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, claims that El-Sayed denies and that remain unsupported by evidence. Democrats said the attacks on El-Sayed relied on Islamophobic tropes.
Voters line up to cast their ballots in the US midterm elections on Election Day in Farmington Hills, Michigan, US, 3 November 2026.ReutersRogers also devoted significant effort to courting Jewish voters who may have been uneasy with El-Sayed's opposition to US military aid for Israel and his characterization of Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide.
But Rogers struggled to overcome voter concerns about the economy and Trump's low ratings. In the closing weeks of the race, he broke with the president on the war in Iran and the US trade dispute with Canada, arguing that ending both was necessary to help bring down costs for businesses and consumers.
Republicans held a 53-47 Senate majority going into Tuesday’s midterm elections, with Democrats needing a net gain of four seats to take control.
Democratic candidate for US Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, speaks alongside his wife, Sarah Jukaku, after his victory in the US midterm elections, during an Election Night rally, in Detroit, Michigan, US, 4 November 2026.ReutersHis opponent Mike Rogers, 63, a former congressman and FBI agent, entered the race with strong backing from Trump and national Republicans and had sought to cast El-Sayed as a radical candidate sympathetic to Islamic extremism through alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, claims that El-Sayed denies and that remain unsupported by evidence. Democrats said the attacks on El-Sayed relied on Islamophobic tropes.
Rogers also devoted significant effort to courting Jewish voters who may have been uneasy with El-Sayed's opposition to US military aid for Israel and his characterization of Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide.
A supporter holds a folding fan with the image of Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at an Election Night rally during the US midterm elections in Detroit, Michigan, US, 3 November 2026.Reuters But Rogers struggled to overcome voter concerns about the economy and Trump's low ratings. In the closing weeks of the race, he broke with the president on the war in Iran and the US trade dispute with Canada, arguing that ending both was necessary to help bring down costs for businesses and consumers.
