El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race with 7-point lead

WASHINGTON, D.C. Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican challenger Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race, securing a seven percentage point lead with approximately 97 percent of the vote counted.

The Associated Press called the race for El-Sayed early Wednesday morning. The victory gives Democrats a substantial majority in the Senate following Tuesday’s midterm elections.

El-Sayed told The Associated Press that Michigan voters rejected what he described as a “hateful, spiteful campaign.” He noted that Republicans had spent months attacking his Muslim identity in one of the nation’s most closely watched contests.

“Michigan proved just how big we are. Rejected a hateful, spiteful campaign that had nothing to say about the issues and only wanted to point to my name and my face,” El-Sayed said. “Michiganders rejected that. Every single county, every single one, pushed against that.”

AP voting data showed that every county in Michigan shifted toward Democrats compared with the 2024 election cycle. An AP Voter Poll surveying more than 4,500 Michigan voters found the electorate roughly split on whether El-Sayed’s views were “too extreme,” with about half answering affirmatively.

As of Wednesday afternoon, El-Sayed and Rogers had not spoken since Rogers issued a statement conceding the race. Rogers had called then-Rep. Elissa Slotkin to concede the 2024 Senate race on the morning before the AP called the result.

El-Sayed, who will become the nation’s first Muslim senator, said the morning was a moment of reflection regarding his two daughters. He said his 3-year-old does not yet understand the result, while his 8-year-old views the event as normal.

The senator-elect said he is “running on adrenaline and caffeine.” He declined to commit to supporting Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer for another term, noting he does not yet know who else might run for the position.

“I do believe we need new leadership and I think people are hungry for it,” El-Sayed added.