KUALA LUMPUR – Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed declared victory in Michigan’s US Senate race early Wednesday after securing a lead over Republican former congressman Mike Rogers, in a historic result that could make him the first Muslim elected to the upper chamber of the US Congress.
Addressing supporters at his campaign headquarters in Detroit, El-Sayed celebrated the outcome, saying his victory demonstrated the strength of a grassroots political movement.
“Michigan, we did it. I am so proud and honoured to stand here as the newly elected senator from this great state of Michigan,” he said.
“We just showed them that a movement of the people, by the people, and for the people will ultimately win,” El-Sayed added.
“They tried to confuse you. So let me just set the record this straight. I love America. I know exactly what America gave to me. Michiganders believe in Michigan, and I believe in Michiganders, and I am so honoured that Michiganders believed in me.”
Unofficial results reported by the Associated Press showed El-Sayed leading Rogers with 51.8% of the vote against 46.2%, with 80% of ballots counted as of 1.50am. However, the news agency had yet to officially declare a winner at the time.
His victory came despite a last-minute setback when Congresswoman Haley Stevens, whom El-Sayed defeated in the Democratic primary, unexpectedly endorsed Rogers ahead of polling day.
If confirmed, El-Sayed will take office in January, succeeding retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters. His election would also mark a second consecutive defeat for Rogers, who lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin in the 2024 Senate race.
A progressive politician associated with New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, El-Sayed is expected to champion an ambitious policy agenda in Washington.
His priorities include expanding the Affordable Care Act into a Medicare for All system, ending the war in Iran and renegotiating Washington’s relationship with Israel.
Throughout his political career, including his 2026 Senate campaign, El-Sayed has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians during its war with Hamas in Gaza. The allegation remains contested, although it has been supported by several international organisations, including Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders and a United Nations commission.
His stance on Israel also featured prominently in the campaign, with polling commissioned by The Jewish Majority suggesting that he received weaker support among Jewish early voters than fellow Democrat Jocelyn Benson.
The survey, conducted from October 25 to 31 among 482 Jewish voters who had cast their ballots early, found that El-Sayed secured 57% of their support, compared with 78% for Benson.
It also found that 99% of Jewish Democrats who did not vote for El-Sayed said they would likely have supported another Democratic nominee.
However, his appeal extended beyond his position on the Middle East, with voters also weighing economic concerns, the rising cost of living and opposition to President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Although El-Sayed describes himself as a capitalist who wants to tackle corporate greed and the concentration of wealth among the richest 1%, several of his proposed policies have also been championed by democratic socialists.
He is not a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, although two of his prominent political allies, Ocasio-Cortez and Detroit Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, are associated with the organisation and have endorsed his platform.
With Sanders in the Senate and Ocasio-Cortez in the House of Representatives among his allies, El-Sayed hopes to push for structural changes to US policy, although advancing his agenda will require support from more centrist Democrats.
The extent of his influence remains to be seen, but his six-year Senate term could provide fresh momentum for progressive policies that have gained traction among voters, particularly in Michigan. – November 4, 2026