Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has made history by becoming the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate after defeating Republican Mike Rogers in a fiercely contested Michigan race.
The 41-year-old progressive secured the seat despite a turbulent final stretch of the campaign, which was marked by an unexpected political defection from his former Democratic primary opponent, Haley Stevens.
His victory came during a major midterm election breakthrough for Democrats, who regained control of both chambers of Congress in a series of unexpected results across traditionally Republican states.
Democrat Celebrates Victory With Message to Trump
Addressing supporters shortly after 1:30am Eastern time, El-Sayed celebrated his victory and directly addressed President Donald Trump.
“Michigan, we did it,” he declared before turning his attention to the president.
“To President Trump, I know you struggle with my name.
So after JD swears me in, you can just call me senator,” he said, referring to Vice President JD Vance.
His election was among several major Democratic victories recorded on election night, as the party made gains in states that had strongly supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Haley Stevens’ Endorsement of Republican Opponent Sparks Democratic Feud
El-Sayed’s campaign faced an unexpected setback when Haley Stevens, who had previously contested the Democratic primary against him, publicly endorsed Rogers on the eve of the election.
Stevens subsequently launched a series of attacks against El-Sayed, intensifying divisions within the Democratic Party during the final hours of the race.
Her decision to support the Republican candidate prompted a strong response from El-Sayed’s supporters, while prominent Democrats and major donors rallied behind the nominee.
The campaign raised $2.4 million on Sunday, recording its largest single-day fundraising total.
The fundraising surge came as Stevens appeared alongside Rogers at a church event to formalise her endorsement of the Republican candidate.
Former President Barack Obama also backed El-Sayed, appearing at a campaign rally in support of his candidacy.
Cost of Living and Iran Conflict Dominate Campaign
Throughout the campaign, El-Sayed focused heavily on household expenses, particularly rising fuel prices, while also making the US conflict with Iran a central issue.
He repeatedly argued that the economic consequences of Trump’s policies should influence voters’ decisions, telling supporters that the president’s handling of the Iran war and rising petrol costs were key issues in the election.
“Donald Trump’s war in Iran is on the ballot,” he said.
“Your gas prices are on the ballot,” he added.
According to AAA figures cited during the campaign, petrol prices in Michigan stood at approximately $4.83 per gallon.
At an event in Grand Rapids, El-Sayed accused Republicans of concentrating on his identity and religious beliefs rather than addressing economic concerns.
“Their strategy is to point at me and my name and my faith. But my name and my faith are not the reason you can’t afford your gas,” he said.
Trump Campaigns for Rogers With Attacks on El-Sayed
Trump personally travelled to Michigan to campaign for Rogers, appearing alongside the Republican candidate at a rally in Port Huron.
During the event, the president launched a series of personal attacks against El-Sayed and questioned the consequences of electing him to the Senate.
“If Abdul and the Democrats win, they will open the floodgates and invite hordes of jihadis to our shores, creating a nightmare of violence and terror until you cannot even have a Christmas,” Trump told thousands of attendees.
He also questioned El-Sayed’s suitability for public office, saying he should not be allowed to travel by plane or occupy a seat in the United States Senate.
Trump further criticised Jewish voters who supported the Democratic candidate.
“Any Jewish person that supports this guy should be ashamed of themselves,” he said.
Republicans Question El-Sayed’s Loyalties
Rogers and conservative supporters also questioned El-Sayed’s political loyalties during the campaign, alleging links between him and organisations such as the Muslim Brotherhood.
El-Sayed strongly rejected the allegations, describing the attacks as Islamophobic attempts to divert attention from policy issues.
The controversy became a prominent feature of the campaign as both candidates sought to secure support in the closely contested race.
Michigan Records Another Major Senate Election Result
El-Sayed’s victory marks a major breakthrough for Democrats in Michigan, where Republicans have not won a Senate election since 1994.
The party last secured the particular Senate seat in 1972 and has not won a non-presidential statewide election in Michigan since 2014.
Public polling aggregators had indicated that the contest was exceptionally close before Election Day, with El-Sayed holding only a narrow lead of a few percentage points over Rogers.
His victory formed part of a broader Democratic advance across the country, with several traditionally Republican states recording unexpected election results.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton, while South Carolina elected a Democratic senator for the first time since 1998.
Kansas also elected a Democrat to the Senate for the first time since 1932, while Democrats recorded further Senate victories in Iowa and Ohio, two states Trump had won by more than 10 percentage points in 2024.
