Abdul El-Sayed did not have to become less Muslim to win

Abdul El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health director, defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race and will become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. The author, a Michigan Muslim who knew El-Sayed through local community and university ties, says his victory brought hope because he represented a candidate voters could support positively, rather than choosing only to block someone else.

El-Sayed opposed Israel’s war in Gaza and also campaigned on issues including healthcare, housing, groceries and affordability. The article says he faced attacks on his Muslim faith and name, including mockery from President Donald Trump and unsubstantiated claims linking him to groups he did not belong to. It argues that he responded directly and did not distance himself from his faith or the Palestinian cause to be considered fit for office.