APTOPIX Election 2026 Michigan
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks at an election night event, early Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Detroit, as his wife Sarah Jukaku watches.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Progressive favorite Abdul El-Sayed has defeated Republican Mike Rogers in…
Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed tells The Associated Press that voters have rejected a “hateful, spiteful campaign” after months of Republican attacks on his Muslim identity. El-Sayed spoke to the AP by phone Wednesday. He will become the nation’s first Muslim senator after defeating Republican Mike Rogers by a significant margin in one of the nation's most closely watched races. President Donald Trump repeatedly called him a “jihadist” during the campaign. El-Sayed also reflected on the historic significance of his victory and called for new Democratic leadership in Congress.
Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate — a significant milestone for Muslim Americans. El-Sayed's victory is seen as a rejection of anti-Muslim rhetoric. President Donald Trump and other Republicans had targeted El-Sayed with accusations and fearmongering. On Wednesday, El-Sayed's win over Republican rival Mike Rogers was confirmed. Council on American-Islamic Relations national executive director Nihad Awad calls it a historic defeat for the politics of hate. El-Sayed says his critics “tried to demonize people because of how they pray." El-Sayed hopes his election will encourage Americans who feel unrepresented in national politics.
