Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s closely contested Senate race, becoming the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, according to projections by major US news organisations.

El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers. Fox News and Decision Desk HQ projected his victory in the early hours of Wednesday, November 4. CBS News, which had rated the contest a toss-up, later followed. With 77 per cent of ballots counted, Decision Desk HQ put El-Sayed at 51.89 per cent of the vote.

Addressing supporters in Michigan after the projections, El-Sayed declared, “Michigan, we did it!” He said he was “so proud and honoured” to become senator-elect and thanked voters for backing “the unlikeliest of candidates.” “You took a chance on the unlikeliest of candidates, so thank you,” he told the crowd. “This is all yours.”

He also thanked people who opened their churches, synagogues and homes to him. Responding to attacks, he said opponents “were targeting and attacking you.” “They want an America that is too small for some of us,” he said. “We know that America is big enough for all of us.”

The Michigan contest ranked among the most closely watched and expensive Senate races of the 2026 cycle. Rogers, a former congressman, sought to portray El-Sayed as an extremist and link him to the Muslim Brotherhood, an allegation El-Sayed rejected. El-Sayed faced criticism over his Muslim identity from Rogers, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Trump repeatedly targeted his faith and mocked his Arabic name.

Two days before the election, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens, whom El-Sayed defeated in the August primary, endorsed Rogers, drawing criticism from Democratic leaders.

El-Sayed’s campaign focused on universal healthcare, economic hardship and redirecting money spent on the Iran war and military aid to Israel towards domestic needs.

The 42-year-old was born in Michigan to Egyptian immigrant parents. A physician by training, he previously served as Detroit’s health commissioner and headed the Wayne County health department. He ran unsuccessfully for Michigan governor in 2018 and had not held elected office before this victory. His wife, Sarah Jukaku, has family roots in Bhatkal, Karnataka, belonging to the Nawayath Muslim community.

El-Sayed’s win formed part of broader Democratic gains in the 2026 midterms. Networks projected the party had secured control of both the House and Senate. Democrats flipped seats in Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maine, while Texas and Kansas elected Democratic senators after decades of Republican dominance.