Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s open US Senate seat, beating Republican former congressman Mike Rogers. The Associated Press called the race at 2:28am Eastern time on Wednesday 4 November, which was 11:28am in Dubai, NPR reported. El-Sayed, 42, will be the first Muslim to serve in the US Senate.
He replaces retiring Democratic senator Gary Peters. Democrats have held the seat since 1979, and no Republican has won a Senate race in Michigan since 1994, according to NBC News.
Key points
- AP called the race at 11:28am Dubai time on 4 November
- Early results: El-Sayed 52.2%, Rogers 45.8%
- More than 90% of the expected vote counted; the result is not yet official
- El-Sayed will be the first Muslim in the US Senate
- He succeeds retiring Democrat Gary Peters
Abdul El-Sayed’s early results in Michigan
The figures below are early and unofficial. They are based on live results with more than 90% of the expected vote counted, and the shares may still move as counting finishes.
| Candidate | Party | Share of vote |
|---|---|---|
| Abdul El-Sayed | Democratic | 52.2% |
| Mike Rogers | Republican | 45.8% |
| Lydia Christensen | Libertarian | 1.0% |
| Tim Long | US Taxpayers | 0.6% |
| Douglas Marsh | Green | 0.3% |
| Walter Kristy | Natural Law | 0.2% |
That puts El-Sayed about six points ahead. Rogers, 63, also lost a Senate race in Michigan in 2024.
How El-Sayed won the race
El-Sayed, an Egyptian-American epidemiologist, is a former public health official who led the health departments of Detroit and Wayne County. He first ran for office in 2018, in an unsuccessful bid for governor of Michigan.
This year he won the Democratic primary by about one point over Representative Haley Stevens, who later endorsed Rogers. His campaign focused on healthcare and on getting corporate money out of politics. “You deserve to be able to see a doctor without getting a huge bill,” he told voters before polling day, AFP reported.
The race was bitter. NBC News reported that President Donald Trump and other Republicans used Islamophobic rhetoric against him. The war with Iran also hung over the campaign. For background, see our reports on rising US Iran tensions and on why Tehran says it is not ready for a Trump Iran deal.
“Michigan, we did it! I am so proud and honoured to stand here as your senator-elect from the great state of Michigan.”
Abdul El-Sayed, speaking to supporters (AFP)
He also answered the attacks directly. “They tried to confuse you, so let me just set the record straight. I love America,” he said, according to NBC News. Turning to his opponent, he added: “So Mike, enjoy your retirement. See, you chose hate, and Michigan chose hope.”
What the result means for the Senate
The win came on a strong night for Democrats. NBC News projects that Democrats will win control of both the Senate and the House. The final number of Senate seats for each party is not yet known, as votes are still being counted in several states.
The new Congress will shape the last two years of Trump’s term, after a year of changes inside the White House, including Trump’s announcement that Karoline Leavitt will leave the White House.
Sources: Associated Press, NPR, NBC News, AFP via Khaleej Times
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