Democrat Abdul El-Sayed holds a lead over Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s open Senate race, though the Associated Press has not called the contest and votes are still being counted. The seat is being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
If his lead holds, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim ever elected to the Senate.
El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, won the Democratic nomination in August, narrowly defeating Rep. Haley Stevens despite millions spent by AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups. He has described Israel’s war in Gaza as genocide, and he backed the “uncommitted” protest movement during the 2024 presidential race. After the primary, Stevens endorsed Rogers.
Rogers, a former congressman and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, narrowly lost Michigan’s 2024 Senate race to Elissa Slotkin. Rogers and outside groups backing him outspent El-Sayed and his allies by roughly 3:2, according to FEC disclosures.
Democrats have already secured a Senate majority after flipping six Republican-held seats on Tuesday night.
