Michigan Senator-Elect Cites Rejection of Attacks

Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed said on Wednesday that Michigan voters rejected a campaign he described as hateful and spiteful. The race against Republican Mike Rogers ended in early voting calls on Wednesday. El-Sayed holds a seven-point lead with approximately 97 percent of the vote counted. This victory gives Democrats a majority in the Senate following Tuesday's midterm elections.

Republicans targeted El-Sayed's Muslim identity throughout the campaign. President Donald Trump repeatedly called the senator-elect a jihadist who supported terrorists. El-Sayed, born in the United States to parents from Egypt, said the campaign focused on his name and face rather than policy issues. He stated that every county in the state pushed back against the attacks. AP voting data shows every county shifted toward Democrats compared to 2024 results.

The campaign was marked by intense competition. El-Sayed said he was running on adrenaline and caffeine after the result was announced. He described the morning as a moment of reflection for his two daughters. His three-year-old child does not yet understand the event, while his eight-year-old views the victory as normal. El-Sayed said his daughters will read about this win in history books.

Rogers and El-Sayed had not spoken as of Wednesday afternoon. Rogers issued a statement conceding the race but did not call his opponent immediately. This differs from the 2024 cycle, when Mike Rogers called Elissa Slotkin to concede before the Associated Press called the race. The AP Voter Poll surveyed more than 4,500 Michigan voters. The survey found voters were split on whether El-Sayed's views were too extreme, with about half saying they were.

El-Sayed became the nation's first Muslim senator. He rose from a double-digit defeat in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary. He later upset an establishment-backed candidate in the primary despite spending millions less. He said his campaign proved that old-fashioned politics can work if one is willing to do the work. El-Sayed said his victory is not the success, but what he does with the seat is the success.

He did not commit to supporting Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer for another term. El-Sayed said he did not yet know who else might run for the leadership position. Schumer is expected to retain the role. El-Sayed said he believes new leadership is needed and that people are hungry for it. The Associated Press reporter Linley Sanders contributed to the story.