Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan's high-stakes Senate race

El-Sayed, 42, overcame a raft of Islamophobia fomented by President Donald Trump and others to become the first Muslim elected to the chamber.

by · 5 NBCDFW

Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and former public health official aligned with the Democratic Party’s left flank, has won Michigan’s highly hostile Senate race, defeating his Republican rival, former Rep. Mike Rogers, NBC News projects.

El-Sayed, 42, overcame a raft of Islamophobia fomented by President Donald Trump and others to become the first Muslim elected to the chamber.

He also overcame a last-minute defection from Rep. Haley Stevens, a vanquished primary rival who reneged on her pledge to support him and endorsed Rogers after attending church with him Sunday.

El-Sayed’s victory extends a long-running GOP drought in the state. A Republican has not won a Senate seat in Michigan since 1994. El-Sayed will succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

  • Michigan – U.S. Senate

    84.9% expected vote in

    Source: NBC News Decision Desk

    Projected Winner

    • Abdul El-Sayed

      52%

      2,206,235

    • Mike Rogers

      46%

      1,952,991

    • Lydia Christensen

      1%

      44,020

    • Tim Long

      0.5%

      23,290

    • Douglas Marsh

      0.3%

      10,977

    • Walter Kristy

      0.2%

      6,402