Abdul El-Sayed has become the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate after defeating Republican candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan’s November 3 midterm elections.
El-Sayed, a Democrat and former public health official, secured 52.4 per cent of the votes, according to election results reported by the Associated Press.
His victory marks a significant milestone for Muslim political representation in the United States, where his religious identity became a subject of debate during the campaign.
The 42-year-old is the son of Egyptian immigrants and previously served as a public health official in Michigan.
During his victory speech, El-Sayed addressed criticism directed at his name and faith, saying they were not responsible for the economic difficulties facing American voters.
“They might have been pointing to my name and my faith, but we all know my name and my faith are not why you can’t afford your gas,” he said.
President Donald Trump and other Republican figures had attempted to link El-Sayed to Muslim terrorist groups during the campaign, although no evidence was provided to support the claims.
El-Sayed’s campaign also attracted national attention because of his criticism of the US-Israel alliance and his position on the war in Gaza.
He described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide and called for an end to US military aid to Israel.
His comments drew criticism from some Jewish voters, particularly after he said “hurt people hurt people” following an attack on a Michigan synagogue. He later apologised for the remark.
El-Sayed’s victory comes amid growing Muslim participation in American politics, with several candidates from different religious backgrounds also securing electoral victories during the midterm elections.
