Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan 2026 Senate election, defeating Mike Rogers

November 4, 2026 / 2:29 AM EST / CBS News

Washington — Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race, CBS News projects, becoming the nation's first Muslim to be elected senator and retaining the seat for Democrats after one of the most contentious contests of the midterm elections.

El-Sayed, 42, is a former Michigan health official who ran on a leftist platform and became a target of the right in the Great Lakes State and beyond. He defeated a more moderate opponent in the Democratic primary, after Democratic Sen. Gary Peters opted not to seek reelection, spurring scrutiny as national Democrats questioned the electability of a progressive candidate in a state that voted for President Trump twice.

Late in the race, El-Sayed's appeal to Jewish and Black voters was in question over his opposition to U.S. support for Israel and his progressive platform. At the same time, top Republicans, including President Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz called El-Sayed a "jihadist" and member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and implied that electing him could even be deadly to Americans.

"If I am correct that he is a passionate supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, there…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/