Midterm elections 2026 live updates: El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat in win for progressives

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has been projected to win the Michigan Senate race, according to CBS News, becoming the first Muslim senator in the nation. The 42-year-old former Michigan health official ran on a progressive platform and faced a contentious race against former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers. El-Sayed defeated a more moderate Democratic opponent in the primary after Democratic Sen. Gary Peters declined to seek reelection, raising concerns about the electability of a progressive candidate in a state that had voted for President Trump twice in recent elections.

As the election approached, El-Sayed faced scrutiny over his opposition to U.S. support for Israel and his progressive platform. Top Republicans, including President Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, labeled El-Sayed a "jihadist" and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, raising concerns about his safety if elected. The race between El-Sayed and Rogers saw intense criticism from both sides, with the latter describing El-Sayed as a rubber stamp for the president, despite his attempts to distance himself from the White House.