Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race
The gist
Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race, leading 52.5% to 45.5%.
He becomes the first Muslim US senator, a test of the Democratic left's sway.
How it unfolded
- Aug 5, 2026El-Sayed won Michigan's Democratic Senate primary over Rep. Haley Stevens, 48.5% to 47.5%, in a result called by the Associated Press the morning after Election Day.
- Nov 1, 2026Stevens, his primary rival, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers after attending a church service with him in Detroit.
- Nov 3, 2026El-Sayed declared victory in Michigan's Senate race, calling it a victory for the grassroots movement behind his campaign.
Key terms
- Medicare for All
- A proposed U.S. bill to create a single-payer national health care system covering everyone.
- wealth tax
- A tax on an entity's total assets or net worth, including cash, property, and securities.
- battleground state
- A state where either major party candidate could reasonably win, so both campaigns target it.
Source: Wikipedia