Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, the Associated Press projected. He will become the nation’s first Muslim senator.
Why it matters: El-Sayed’s win shows how an unapologetically progressive candidate can win in a battleground state President Trump carried just two years ago.
The two candidates competed for the seat vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, with Republicans hoping to flip a seat Democrats have held for decades. But the GOP failed in its endeavor — and already lost its Senate majority.
The race took a stunning turn in its final days, when Democratic U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, who narrowly lost the August primary to El-Sayed, endorsed Rogers.
The move sparked furious backlash from Democrats and prompted several of Stevens’ staffers, including her chief of staff, to resign.
Axios Abdul El-Sayed defeats Mike Rogers in 2026 Michigan Senate election
