Michigan’s El-Sayed Projected as First Muslim Senator

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. The Associated Press called the race shortly after 2:25 a.m. Eastern Wednesday. With about 85% of votes counted, El-Sayed led 51.9% to 46.1%, the Washington Examiner reported; other AP-based tallies put him near 52%. The 41-year-old former Detroit health official beat Rep. Haley Stevens in the Aug. 4 primary for the seat Sen. Gary Peters is vacating and will be the first Muslim elected to the Senate. In a Detroit victory speech he said opponents divided voters over costs, pointed to his name and faith, and ran one of the ugliest campaigns in recent memory; Trump and Republicans called him a “jihadist.” Stevens endorsed Rogers late after receiving more than $35 million from AIPAC, which also made a last-minute donation for Rogers that outlets call unusual in competitive general elections. State Rep. Noah Arbit criticized El-Sayed after he told ABC News Israel was not a “friend” of the United States. Obama, Harris, and Bernie Sanders backed El-Sayed; Trump backed Rogers. Rated outlets agree on the call, margin range, and historic first. They differ on emphasis—faith attacks and progressive organizing versus Israel criticism and ticket-splitting context. No dispute on the projection itself; seating and agenda fights are next.