MICHIGAN: Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s closely watched US Senate race, according to media projections, becoming the first Muslim elected to the Senate. His victory keeps the seat in Democratic hands after Senator Gary Peters’ retirement and marks a breakthrough for the party’s progressive wing.
El-Sayed, 42, is a former public health official who campaigned on easing costs for working families and reducing corporate influence in politics. His platform included Medicare for All, a government-funded universal healthcare plan.
Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman and FBI agent, had support from President Donald Trump and national Republican leaders. He sought to link El-Sayed to extremism through alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties—claims El-Sayed denied and for which no evidence was presented. Democrats said the attacks relied on Islamophobic stereotypes.
Rogers also appealed to Jewish voters concerned by El-Sayed’s opposition to US military aid for Israel and his description of Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. But economic concerns and Trump’s low approval ratings weighed on the Republican campaign.
Kansas Democrat also wins Senate seat
In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton defeated Trump-backed Republican Roger Marshall, according to media projections, becoming the state’s first Democratic senator in 94 years.
Hamilton, a pastor, presented himself as an independent-minded Democrat and focused his campaign on affordability and bipartisanship. In his victory speech, he called for greater unity and criticized policies he said had raised living costs, including tariffs and cuts to food assistance.
The race tightened in its final weeks, prompting Trump and Vice President JD Vance to campaign for Marshall. Trump also announced a proposed $8 billion programme to help farmers with diesel costs during the harvest season.
