Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan U.S. Senate race, makes history

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(The Center Square) – Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has won Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, with Democrats ending with in control of both chambers of Congress after Tuesday's midterm elections.

“It is my honor and privilege to be headed to the US Senate to serve the great state of Michigan,” El-Sayed said early Wednesday morning. “Michigan, we did what they said couldn’t be done. We won. Together. Now the real work begins.”

El-Sayed is the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate – defeating Republican Mike Rogers. He will succeed Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, who was first elected in 2014. Peters announced in January 2025 that he would not seek reelection.

With more than 95% of the vote in, El-Sayed leads with 52.5% of the vote to Rogers’ 45.5%. Nearly 5 million Michiganders cast ballots, marking the highest turnout of any midterm election in state history.

In 2024, Michigan’s U.S. Senate race was decided by less than half a percentage point, with Democrat Elissa Slotkin narrowly defeating Rogers. Rogers returned as the Republican nominee in 2026 after securing the party’s nomination unopposed.

Rogers has not yet released a statement conceding the race.

The race was the most expensive in Michigan history, with more than $250 million in disclosed spending alone.