El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race to become first Muslim senator

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s US Senate race, defeating Republican Mike Rogers and becoming the first Muslim elected to the Senate. His victory retains the seat for Democrats and marks a breakthrough for the party’s progressive wing.

El-Sayed, a physician and former public health official, won the open seat vacated by retiring Democratic senator Gary Peters. With about 96% of ballots counted, he had roughly 52.5% of the vote to Rogers’s 45.6%; the campaign also featured disputes over the economy, foreign policy and attacks targeting El-Sayed’s Muslim faith.