Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has declared victory in the Michigan Senate race, defeating Republican Mike Rogers in a hard-fought contest. The Associated Press and Fox News called the race for El-Sayed just before 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, with El-Sayed holding a 6-point lead as over 80 percent of the votes were counted.
"Michigan, we did it," El-Sayed announced to supporters early Wednesday. He directly addressed former President Donald Trump, stating, "After JD swears me in, you can just call me senator." El-Sayed, 41, a progressive with a medical degree who has not previously held elected office, is poised to become the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate.
His win comes after a dramatic final stretch of the campaign, during which former Democratic primary challenger Haley Stevens endorsed Rogers on the eve of the election. Stevens launched a series of attacks against El-Sayed, creating internal party friction. However, her defection appeared to galvanize El-Sayed's base, prompting major donors and party leaders to rally behind him. His campaign reported its largest single-day fundraising total of $2.4 million on Sunday, the same day Stevens appeared with Rogers at a church event.
A victory for El-Sayed ensures a continued Democratic hold on the seat. Republicans have not won a Michigan Senate race since 1994, and the party has not secured a statewide non-presidential victory in Michigan since 2014.
During his campaign, El-Sayed, who received support at a rally from former President Barack Obama, focused on issues such as the cost of living and the potential for conflict with Iran. He framed the election as a referendum on "Donald Trump's war in Iran" and rising gas prices, which are currently averaging about $4.83 per gallon in Michigan.
Former President Trump actively campaigned for Rogers in Michigan, holding a rally where he issued strong personal attacks against El-Sayed and his supporters. Trump made inflammatory remarks regarding immigration and El-Sayed's faith. In response, El-Sayed largely steered the conversation back to economic concerns, stating in Grand Rapids that his opponent's strategy was to "point at me and my name and my faith," but that "my name and my faith are not the reason you can't afford your gas."
Rogers and conservative groups had questioned El-Sayed's loyalties, alleging ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has vehemently denied these claims, characterizing them as Islamophobic attempts to divert attention from policy matters.
Public polling leading up to Election Day indicated a very close race, with El-Sayed holding a slight lead.
