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Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s US Senate race, Decision Desk HQ projected, giving progressives a major victory in one of the most expensive and divisive contests of the 2026 midterm elections.
El-Sayed, a physician and former public health official, secured 51.8% of the vote against Rogers’ 46.2%, with about 76% of ballots counted. His victory keeps Michigan’s Senate seat in Democratic hands and adds to the party’s growing advantage in the chamber following wins in Maine, South Carolina, Ohio and Iowa.
El-Sayed is set to become the first Muslim US senator. His victory also strengthens the position of Democrats who argue that progressive candidates can win in the political heartland by building coalitions across racial, ethnic and social groups.
Backed by progressive figures including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, El-Sayed campaigned on issues including “Medicare for All” and ending military support for Israel. He also criticised high gas prices and President Donald Trump’s tariffs, including tariffs on imports from Canada that affected Michigan, a northern border state, reported Bloomberg.
The campaign was marked by accusations of antisemitism and Islamophobia, sharp disagreements over Israel and an intra-party feud involving former primary rival Haley Stevens. Stevens, who narrowly lost to El-Sayed in the Democratic primary, endorsed Rogers over the weekend and attended a church service with him after being disinvited from a rally intended to unite Democratic voters.
Top Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticised Stevens’ last-minute decision. El-Sayed dismissed the move, while his campaign said it raised $2.4 million in its aftermath.
More than $385 million was spent on advertising by both parties in the Michigan race, according to AdImpact. The contest ranked among the most expensive Senate races in the country, alongside those in Texas and Ohio.
Rogers, a former FBI agent and seven-term congressman, largely embraced Trump’s agenda and sought to attract Jewish and Black voters, both important parts of the Democratic coalition. However, he was unable to overcome voter frustration over Trump’s economic policies.
Michigan had initially appeared to offer Republicans an opportunity. El-Sayed narrowly won the Democratic primary in August despite opposition from the party establishment, building strong support among Arab and Muslim voters in Dearborn and young white progressives. Questions about his statewide appeal and relatively weak support among Black voters kept the general election competitive.
During the campaign, El-Sayed backed a number of progressive proposals, including abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, introducing a federal wealth tax and eliminating corporate money from politics. He also accused Israel of committing genocide, criticised the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and appeared alongside controversial streamer Hasan Piker.
El-Sayed condemned antisemitism and later sought to distance himself from Piker, who continued to support him. Rabbis and other community leaders raised concerns over his comments on Israel and his remarks after an attack on the Temple Israel synagogue near Detroit, when he said, “hurt people hurt people”.
Republicans portrayed El-Sayed as a far-left radical sympathetic to Islamic extremism. Days before the election, Trump called him a “jihadist” with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, while Vice President JD Vance described him as “evil”. El-Sayed denied having any such links, and no evidence has been produced connecting him to the organisation.
The Michigan-born candidate is the son of Egyptian immigrants. He grew up in the Detroit metropolitan area, captained his school’s football, wrestling and lacrosse teams and attended the University of Michigan. He later became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and worked as a public health professor before serving in Detroit’s Health Department.
Although he earned a Doctor of Medicine degree, El-Sayed never worked as a licensed doctor. He has said he believed he could have a greater impact through public health.
El-Sayed previously ran for Michigan governor in 2018 but lost to Gretchen Whitmer. In 2024, he was part of the uncommitted movement that withheld support from President Joe Biden to protest his policy on Gaza.
This year, he moderated his campaign approach and appeared with former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Moderate Democrats, including Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin and Whitmer, endorsed him in the general election, arguing that his victory was important to the party’s efforts to retake the Senate.
El-Sayed is now expected to become one of the most prominent Muslim politicians in the US, alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. His positions on Israel, corporate power and the role of billionaires in politics are also likely to make him a target for Republican criticism.
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El-Sayed, a physician and former public health official, secured 51.8% of the vote against Rogers’ 46.2%, with about 76% of ballots counted. His victory keeps Michigan’s Senate seat in Democratic hands and adds to the party’s growing advantage in the chamber following wins in Maine, South Carolina, Ohio and Iowa.
El-Sayed is set to become the first Muslim US senator. His victory also strengthens the position of Democrats who argue that progressive candidates can win in the political heartland by building coalitions across racial, ethnic and social groups.
Backed by progressive figures including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, El-Sayed campaigned on issues including “Medicare for All” and ending military support for Israel. He also criticised high gas prices and President Donald Trump’s tariffs, including tariffs on imports from Canada that affected Michigan, a northern border state, reported Bloomberg.
The campaign was marked by accusations of antisemitism and Islamophobia, sharp disagreements over Israel and an intra-party feud involving former primary rival Haley Stevens. Stevens, who narrowly lost to El-Sayed in the Democratic primary, endorsed Rogers over the weekend and attended a church service with him after being disinvited from a rally intended to unite Democratic voters.
Top Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticised Stevens’ last-minute decision. El-Sayed dismissed the move, while his campaign said it raised $2.4 million in its aftermath.
More than $385 million was spent on advertising by both parties in the Michigan race, according to AdImpact. The contest ranked among the most expensive Senate races in the country, alongside those in Texas and Ohio.
Rogers, a former FBI agent and seven-term congressman, largely embraced Trump’s agenda and sought to attract Jewish and Black voters, both important parts of the Democratic coalition. However, he was unable to overcome voter frustration over Trump’s economic policies.
Michigan had initially appeared to offer Republicans an opportunity. El-Sayed narrowly won the Democratic primary in August despite opposition from the party establishment, building strong support among Arab and Muslim voters in Dearborn and young white progressives. Questions about his statewide appeal and relatively weak support among Black voters kept the general election competitive.
During the campaign, El-Sayed backed a number of progressive proposals, including abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, introducing a federal wealth tax and eliminating corporate money from politics. He also accused Israel of committing genocide, criticised the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and appeared alongside controversial streamer Hasan Piker.
El-Sayed condemned antisemitism and later sought to distance himself from Piker, who continued to support him. Rabbis and other community leaders raised concerns over his comments on Israel and his remarks after an attack on the Temple Israel synagogue near Detroit, when he said, “hurt people hurt people”.
Republicans portrayed El-Sayed as a far-left radical sympathetic to Islamic extremism. Days before the election, Trump called him a “jihadist” with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, while Vice President JD Vance described him as “evil”. El-Sayed denied having any such links, and no evidence has been produced connecting him to the organisation.
The Michigan-born candidate is the son of Egyptian immigrants. He grew up in the Detroit metropolitan area, captained his school’s football, wrestling and lacrosse teams and attended the University of Michigan. He later became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and worked as a public health professor before serving in Detroit’s Health Department.
Although he earned a Doctor of Medicine degree, El-Sayed never worked as a licensed doctor. He has said he believed he could have a greater impact through public health.
El-Sayed previously ran for Michigan governor in 2018 but lost to Gretchen Whitmer. In 2024, he was part of the uncommitted movement that withheld support from President Joe Biden to protest his policy on Gaza.
This year, he moderated his campaign approach and appeared with former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Moderate Democrats, including Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin and Whitmer, endorsed him in the general election, arguing that his victory was important to the party’s efforts to retake the Senate.
El-Sayed is now expected to become one of the most prominent Muslim politicians in the US, alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. His positions on Israel, corporate power and the role of billionaires in politics are also likely to make him a target for Republican criticism.
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‘America is big enough’: Abdul El-Sayed claims victory in US Midterm polls; Here is what voters say
