Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed Wins Senate Seat, Aligns With Trump on Israel Aid Cuts
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Abdul El-Sayed became Michigan’s first Muslim U.S. senator, defeating Republican Mike Rogers, and praised President Trump’s proposal to reduce U.S. military aid to Israel.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed secured Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat, defeating Republican Mike Rogers and becoming the state’s first Muslim senator. The 42-year-old former public-health official ran on a platform that included lowering health-care costs, a Medicare-for-All plan and removing corporate money from politics.
During the campaign, Rogers, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, criticized El-Sayed over his faith and his opposition to U.S. military assistance for Israel. The issue of Israel and the Gaza conflict emerged as a central point of contention, especially after former Democratic primary opponent Haley Stevens endorsed Rogers days before the election.
After the election, President Trump announced a plan to end roughly $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel, which is part of a $3.8 billion aid package that runs through 2028. El-Sayed welcomed the proposal, saying:
"I think the president is actually right on this policy. I'd also like to see us stop selling weaponry that gets used to do the worst things, including genocide and apartheid, to Israel."
El-Sayed extended his criticism to U.S. military support for other regional partners, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan, arguing that American tax dollars should be prioritized for domestic needs.
Despite his victory, El-Sayed acknowledged ongoing divisions within his constituency. Speaking to NPR’s Michel Martin in Michigan, he noted that some Jewish and Black voters still had concerns and added:
"There's always more work to do. There's always more to build. There's always more conversations to have."
The win does not eliminate intra-party disagreements, but it positions El-Sayed as a new voice in the Senate on health policy and foreign-aid issues.