DETROIT (WWJ) -- In an outcome capping one of the nation’s most closely watched midterm races, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has declared victory in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, expected to defeat Republican Mike Rogers with more than 80% of the vote counted.
The Associated Press called the race for El-Sayed early Wednesday, along with other outlets, including Fox News.
The win will keep the seat previously held by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters in Democratic hands and sends the former Detroit health director and epidemiologist to Washington.
>> Michigan Midterm Election Results
Dr. El-Sayed’s victory represents a historic milestone as he becomes the first Muslim ever elected to the United States Senate. The achievement follows a contentious general election campaign that saw heavy spending by outside political action committees targeting key voting blocs across the state, alongside sharp debates over foreign policy, healthcare, and economic relief.
Despite facing millions in opposition ad spending, skepticism over whether an Arab-American progressive could assemble a winning statewide coalition in a critical battleground, and internal party rifts that carried over from a competitive primary.
El-Sayed, from Ann Arbor, secured the seat by consolidating turnout across Southeast Michigan and college towns, while blunting Republican gains in suburban and industrial communities.
Speaking in Detroit, El-Sayed formally declared victory at around 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 4, thanking his his supporters for taking a chance on the “unlikeliest of candidates.”
“Michigan, we did it," he told the cheering crowd. "I am so proud and honored to stand here as your senator-elect from the great state of Michigan. I cannot wait to serve you with the same big-heartedness, open-mindedness, grit and earnestness that you’ve shown me.”
He touched on accusations that he was pushing hate, as he opposed U.S. military funding for Israel.
"To the super PACs and special interests who tried to beat us, we are coming for your system of politics. See, they try to call you hateful if you believe that Palestinian kids should get to grow up in the land of their forefathers without being murdered by our tax dollars," El-Sayed said.
"If you believe in equal rights to peace, dignity, and self-determination, that’s not hate. It’s love. Michiganders, we want our taxes spent here for schools here and health care here and infrastructure here. We don’t want our money sent to do apartheid or genocide or war."
El-Sayed's win comes as voters delivered a significant rebuke to President Donald Trump by handing Democrats control of the Senate, rejecting his handpicked candidates that he had furiously barnstormed for in the final weeks of the midterm campaign.
Despite expressing continued hope, Rogers sent his supporters home from Michigan GOP Election Night headquarters at the Westin Book Cadillac, at around 1 a.m.
Later Wednesday, Rogers released a statement after conceding the race to El-Sayed.
He said in part quote: "Over the past two years, Kristi and I have met incredible Michiganders who want solutions, not division. We’ve worked to put a spotlight on literacy, affordable housing, manufacturing jobs, Detroit’s food desert, and the troubling rise of antisemitism."
He added that he's hopeful that Michigan's best days are still ahead.
Get your local election results online:
- MACOMB COUNTY ELECTION PAGE
- OAKLAND COUNTY ELECTION PAGE
- WAYNE COUNTY ELECTION PAGE
- CITY OF DETROIT ELECTION PAGE
- STATE OF MICHIGAN ELECTION PAGE
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