Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed Wins Senate Seat, Calls Out U.S. Militarism and Aligns With Trump on Israel Aid Cuts
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Abdul El-Sayed became Michigan’s first Muslim U.S. senator after defeating Republican Mike Rogers, running on lowering health-care costs and getting corporate money out of politics, while backing President Trump’s proposal to slash 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 centered on lowering health-care costs, a Medicare-for-All plan and removing corporate money from politics, tapping into widespread frustration with a political system dominated by wealthy interests.
During the campaign, Rogers, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, attacked El-Sayed over his faith and his opposition to U.S. military assistance for Israel. The issue of Israel and the Gaza conflict became a central flashpoint, especially after former Democratic primary opponent Haley Stevens endorsed Rogers days before the election, underscoring the establishment’s willingness to close ranks against dissent.
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 rather than underwriting repression abroad.
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 erase intra-party tensions, but it positions El-Sayed as a fresh Senate voice on health policy and foreign-aid issues, one willing to challenge both the pro-war consensus and the entrenched power structures that sustain it.