US Midterm Elections 2026: Who Is Abdul El-Sayed, First Muslim Senator-Elect With Karnataka Roots Through Wife
Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, popularly known as Abdul El-Sayed, is set to make history after being projected to win Michigan's US Senate race in the 2026 midterm elections. His victory makes him the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate and the first Egyptian-American to win a Senate seat. The 41-year-old Democrat defeated Republican candidate Mike Rogers, a former congressman and FBI…
Abdul El-Sayed, a first Muslim senator-elect with Karnataka roots through his wife, is poised to make history with his projected win in Michigan's US Senate race during the 2026 midterm elections. The 41-year-old Democrat, who defeated Republican candidate Mike Rogers, will succeed retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters upon taking office on January 3, 2027.
El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrant parents, was born in the United States and raised in Michigan. His mother is a nurse practitioner, and his father is a mechanical engineer and professor. El-Sayed's Muslim identity and positions on Israel-Palestine emerged as contentious issues during the campaign, with his opponent, Mike Rogers, criticizing him and alleging links to the Muslim Brotherhood and extremism. However, El-Sayed denied these allegations, which were found unsupported by fact-checkers.
Before entering politics, El-Sayed built a career in public health and academia. He earned a doctorate in public health from the University of Oxford in 2011 and a medical degree from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2014. He then served as the executive director and health officer of the Detroit Health Department from 2015 to 2017, focusing on public health challenges such as lead testing in schools, air pollution, and medical debt relief.
El-Sayed's political career began in earnest in 2018 when he ran for the Democratic nomination for Michigan governor, finishing second to Gretchen Whitmer. He ran again in the 2026 Senate race, where he defeated US Representative Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary. His campaign emphasized issues such as "money out of politics, money in your pocket," Medicare for All, and opposing corporate political donations. El-Sayed has also criticized Israel's military assistance in Gaza and called for an end to US military aid.
El-Sayed's connection to his wife, Dr. Sarah Jukaku, is also noteworthy. Sarah, a psychiatrist, was born and raised in Michigan to Indian immigrant parents whose family hails from Bhatkal in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district. The couple married in 2006 and have two daughters. El-Sayed has expressed his gratitude for his wife's support throughout his political journey.
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