Abdul El-Sayed Becomes First Muslim U.S. Senator as Muslim Candidates Surge
Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Senate race to become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, leading a wave of Muslim wins in federal and state races despite heavy pro-Israel spending against several candidates.
Choose Clash Report as a preferred source and see our reporting first in Top Stories.
The 42-year-old Democrat defeated former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan’s open Senate race, which the Associated Press called early on Nov. 4. With about 97% of votes counted, CBS News put El-Sayed on 52.5%, or 2,497,852 votes, to Rogers’s 45.5%.
El-Sayed will succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. According to NBC News, Republicans have not won a Michigan Senate seat since 1994.
A Contested Path
The physician and epidemiologist, an Egyptian-American and former public health official, faced sustained hostility throughout the race. NBC reported that he overcame a raft of Islamophobia fomented by President Trump and others.
He also absorbed a late blow from his own party. Rep. Haley Stevens, who lost the August primary to El-Sayed by about one point, endorsed Rogers at the last minute. Rogers had faced scrutiny after two of his campaign aides were found to be registered foreign agents for Israel.
El-Sayed ran on Medicare for All and lowering costs for working families. He opposes U.S. military aid to Israel and has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza.
Victory Speech Targets Trump, Vance and AIPAC
In his Detroit victory speech, El-Sayed addressed Vice President JD Vance: “JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you’re constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January.”
Turning to Trump, he said: “Donald, look, I know you struggled with my name. So after JD swears me in in January, you can just go on and call me Senator.” To Rogers, he said: “You chose hate, and Michigan chose hope.”
Millions in Pro-Israel Spending
United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to AIPAC, spent about $33 million on ads in the Democratic primary against El-Sayed and in support of Stevens, according to AdImpact data cited by NBC News. The group returned for the general election with $95,000 in mailers opposing him, an FEC report shows.
El-Sayed put the figure higher. “To AIPAC, who spent $42 million against us: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to beat you twice,” he told supporters.
He was not the group’s only target. FEC data show the super PAC spent about $1.6 million opposing Aisha Wahab in the August special election for California’s 14th District.
New Jersey’s First Muslim Member of Congress
In New Jersey, Democrat Adam Hamawy won the 12th Congressional District, becoming the state’s first Muslim member of Congress, the New Jersey Globe projected. He took 70.2% against Republican Gregg Mele’s 28.3%.
Hamawy, an Egyptian-American plastic surgeon and retired U.S. Army combat surgeon who served in Iraq, volunteered as a doctor in Gaza on two missions. He replaces retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and ran on affordability, Medicare for All and ending U.S. military assistance to Israel.
Incumbents Return
Rashida Tlaib won a fifth term in Michigan’s 12th District with 76.2% against Republican James Hooper. Ilhan Omar secured a fifth term in Minnesota’s 5th District with about 76.5% over Republican John Nagel.
André Carson in Indiana’s 7th District and Lateefah Simon in California’s 12th District were also re-elected. Darializa Avila Chevalier won New York’s 13th Congressional District.
Wahab, an Afghan-American Democrat who entered Congress in August after winning the special election for former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s seat, is projected to win a full term over fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez.
Gains in State Legislatures
Aber Kawas, a Palestinian-American community organizer from Queens, won New York’s 12th State Senate District. Muslim Network TV says she is the first Palestinian Muslim woman elected to New York’s legislature.
In Illinois, state Rep. Nabeela Syed flipped the Republican-held 26th State Senate District, defeating appointed Republican Sen. Darby Hills with about 57%, according to The National.
At Least 36 Winners
Citing preliminary results, Muslim Network TV counts at least 36 Muslim candidates winning or leading in federal, state and local races. Eight are headed to Congress, one to the Senate and seven to the House, while 26 won or lead in state legislative contests.
Many ran on affordability, health care, civil rights and opposition to unconditional U.S. military support for Israel. Full results are on Clash Report’s midterm tracking center.
Kamer Kurunç
Kamer Kurunç is the Team Leader of Clash Report and has led the outlet for four years. He oversees its breaking world news coverage, from the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war to defense and global politics. His focus is fast, verified, source-based reporting. Follow him on X at @kamerknc.
Choose Clash Report as a preferred source and see our reporting first in Top Stories.