Egyptian-American Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat
El-Sayed becomes the first Muslim to serve in the US Senate after a close race against Republican Mike Rogers.
Egyptian-American Abdul El-Sayed won a Michigan Senate seat on Wednesday, November 4, defeating Republican Mike Rogers. El-Sayed, 42, a former public health administrator, is the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate.
The campaign against El-Sayed involved heavy outside spending and attacks, including claims of communism and baseless ties to terrorism. El-Sayed thanked supporters for taking a chance on "the unlikeliest of candidates" after a campaign he described as among the ugliest. The seat was previously held by retiring Democrat Senator Gary Peters.
Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris defended El-Sayed on X, calling him "resilient, sharp, and charismatic" and dismissing accusations of Muslim Brotherhood ties. Sawiris stated that El-Sayed earned his victory on merit, following a viral town hall exchange where El-Sayed disavowed any connection to the group.
Why it mattersEgyptian-American Abdul El-Sayed's historic win as the first Muslim US Senator is commented on by Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris.