Meet Abdul El-Sayed, The Doctor Who Could Become America's First Muslim Senator
News world Meet Abdul El-Sayed, The Doctor Who Could Become America's First Muslim Senator Meet Abdul El-Sayed, The Doctor Who Could Become America's First Muslim
News world Meet Abdul El-Sayed, The Doctor Who Could Become America's First Muslim Senator Meet Abdul El-Sayed, The Doctor Who Could Become America's First Muslim Senator Published By, Last Updated: August 05, 2026, 21:30 IST Abdul El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health official, won Michigan's Democratic Senate primary and could become America's first Muslim senator if elected in November. Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary and will face Republican Mike Rogers in the November election. Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a physician, former public health official and son of Egyptian immigrants, is poised to become the Democratic Party’s nominee for the US Senate from Michigan after defeating establishment-backed Congresswoman Haley Stevens in the state’s closely watched primary. If El-Sayed defeats Republican Mike Rogers in November’s midterm election, he would become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
The 40-year-old campaigned on a progressive platform that included Medicare for All, reducing the role of money in politics, and ending unconditional US military aid to Israel. His campaign also advocated sweeping immigration reforms and criticised the Democratic establishment, positioning him as an insurgent candidate against Stevens, a four-term congresswoman backed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and outgoing Senator Gary Peters. Doctor, Rhodes Scholar And Public Health Official El-Sayed was born in Michigan to Egyptian immigrant parents. A physician by training, he previously served as Health Director for the City of Detroit, where he focused on public health and healthcare access. He is also a Rhodes Scholar, having studied at the University of Oxford after graduating from the University of Michigan. Before entering the Senate race, El-Sayed unsuccessfully contested the Democratic primary for Michigan governor in 2018, establishing himself as one of the state’s leading progressive voices.
Backed By Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez His Senate campaign received endorsements from progressive heavyweights including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who argued he represented a new direction for the Democratic Party. Following his projected victory, El-Sayed called for Democratic unity ahead of November’s election against Republican Mike Rogers. “The movement to get money out of politics, put money in your pocket, and pass Medicare for All is a big movement," he told supporters. He also pledged to represent all Michigan residents, regardless of how they voted in the presidential election. The Michigan race is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests in the November midterms as Democrats seek to retain a crucial Senate seat in a battleground state that voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18.
The BriefWire