Election 2026 First Muslim Senator
Members of the Arab American Political Action Committee show a sample ballot to a voter outside the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center early voting location, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Dearborn, Mich.
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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.
