Abdul El-Sayed achieved the victory by securing 51.8 percent of the vote against Republican Mike Rogers' 46.2 percent with 80 percent of ballots counted. The 42-year-old Michigan native, who previously ran for governor in 2018, overcame deep opposition spending in his primary while relying strictly on individual donors. His successful platform championed standard progressive priorities, including Medicare-for-All and critiques of American foreign policy toward Israel. During his victory remarks, he addressed past political attacks and directly called out President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Key points
Abdul El-Sayed secured the Michigan seat vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Pete…: Abdul El-Sayed secured the Michigan seat vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
Major outlets like Fox News projected the victory, although the Associated Press had not…: Major outlets like Fox News projected the victory, although the Associated Press had not immediately called it.
High-profile political figures including Senator Bernie Sanders and former President Bara…: High-profile political figures including Senator Bernie Sanders and former President Barack Obama endorsed his competitive primary bid.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Egyptian-American progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed declared victory early on Wednesday in a highly coveted Michigan Senate seat, making him the first Muslim elected to the upper chamber of Congress.
El-Sayed declared victory with 80 percent of votes counted, showing him in a comfortable 51.8 percent led compared to his Republican opponent Mike Rogers at 46.2 percent. The Associated Press has yet to call the race, but Fox News and others did.
He will now replace retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
“I am so proud and honored to stand here as your senator-elect," Sayed said in an energized victory speech, where he said he was able to overcome Islamophobic slurs aimed at him by US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
"To all the parents who struggled to explain [to their kids] why the president openly mocked someone for their name or how they pray, let them know tomorrow that the bad guys lost," he said to cheers and applause.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked…
Thousands of healthcare professionals are challenging international ethical leadership following a decision reached at an assembly in the Netherlands. Advocacy groups contend that continuing membership for Israel's primary medical body undermines foundational safeguards against physician participation in state torture. This refusal comes amid escalating legal pressure, including an unprecedented formal complaint submitted to international war crimes prosecutors.
Flipping legislative control gives the opposing party substantial oversight tools to challenge executive decisions and foreign military engagements during the administration's final two years. Lawmakers plan to leverage spending authority to rein in war powers following controversial military actions abroad. However, significant constitutional latitude ensures the executive branch retains primary day-to-day command over international relations.
Prompted by an official request from President Abdourahamane Tiani, Algiers has dispatched military forces across its southern border to safeguard crucial economic assets and strategic oil installations. The deployment marks an end to decades of strict military non-intervention abroad, driven by fears that unchecked regional turmoil could jeopardize major infrastructure like the trans-Saharan gas pipeline. Algerian leadership views the move as vital defense against growing regional maneuvers linked to Morocco, Isr…