Abdul El-Sayed Becomes First Muslim Elected to US Senate
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. US media projections say he defeated former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race on Tuesday.
The win keeps a key Democratic-held seat in Democratic hands. Sen. Gary Peters is retiring and vacated it.
El-Sayed is a medical doctor and a former public health official. He came through a competitive Democratic primary before facing Rogers.
He will be the first Muslim to serve in the Senate when the new Congress convenes in January.
Campaign Focused on His Faith
His Muslim faith became a central issue in the race. President Donald Trump and other Republicans repeatedly attacked him over his religious background.
El-Sayed rejected allegations linking him to extremism.
Michigan was narrowly won by Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
“Bad Guys Lost … We Won!”
El-Sayed celebrated at his election-night watch party early Wednesday. He thanked Michigan voters and promised to bring the same determination, openness and compassion to the Senate that voters showed during his campaign.
“Michigan, I cannot wait to serve you with the same big-heartedness, open-mindedness, grit, and earnestness that you’ve shown me,” he told supporters.
He called the result a shared victory and took aim at his opponents.
“Let them know tomorrow that the bad guys lost,” he said. “Let them know that we together, fighting for something bigger, we won. We won! So Mike, enjoy your retirement.”
He also spoke to Vice President JD Vance, who is constitutionally required to swear in new senators.
“There is this delicious irony in the fact that you’re constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January,” said El-Sayed.
Turning to Trump, he mentioned the president’s rallies, where Trump made a show of struggling to pronounce his name.
“Donald, look, I know you struggled with my name,” El-Sayed said. “So after JD swears me in in January, you can just go on and call me senator.”
