El-Sayed Makes History In Becoming First Muslim U.S. Senator

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in the race for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, according to media projections.

The former executive director of the Detroit Health Department is the first Muslim ever elected to the U.S. Senate.

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"Michigan, we did it," El-Sayed said in his victory speech in Detroit just before 2 a.m. Wednesday. "We showed that in a battle between the money and the many, that the many really can win."

The 42-year-old's victory comes after he said his opponent, Rogers, "went all-in on one of the ugliest campaigns we've seen in our lifetimes."

"They might have been pointing to my name and my faith, but we all know that my name and my faith aren't the reason you can't afford your gas, not the reason you can't afford your groceries, not the reason you can't see a doctor," El-Sayed said.

El-Sayed, a father of two and the son of Egyptian immigrants, ran a campaign focused on Medicare for all, affordable housing and worker bargaining rights.

He is largely looked at as among the more progressive candidates across the Democratic Party. His win shows they can win tight races in a purple battleground state like Michigan.

El-Sayed's victory also comes after Democrat Haley Stevens, whom El-Sayed defeated in the August primary, shockingly endorsed Mike Rogers.

Rogers, who was backed by President Donald Trump, broke with the president on several key issues, including tariffs and the Iran War, leading up to the election.

The battle was to replace Democratic Senator Gary Peters, who decided not to seek re-election. The race was among the most closely-watched elections this midterm cycle.