Black Voters Propel Abdul El-Sayed to Michigan Senate Win
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Preliminary results show roughly 86% of Black Michiganders supported Abdul El-Sayed, helping him secure a decisive victory in the 2026 U.S. Senate race.
Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat with strong backing from Black voters, according to early counts. Unofficial results from Detroit show about 91.8% of the city’s voters chose the progressive candidate, while he captured 70.6% of the broader Wayne County vote. Statewide estimates place Black support for El-Sayed at roughly 86%, a level comparable to the 90% backing Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson received in the 2022 race.
The surge followed a primary in which El-Sayed lost to Rep. Haley Stevens among Detroit voters, prompting the candidate to emphasize policies aimed at minority-owned businesses, affordable housing, food-desert relief and a national expansion of the Rx Kids cash assistance program. Political scientists note that Black voters in Michigan have consistently favored Democratic candidates, with precincts that are over 80% Black supporting Democrats at rates above 90% in recent elections.
Analysts caution that the high turnout and support may reflect broader opposition to Republican candidates and President Donald Trump rather than an endorsement of every progressive proposal. Nonetheless, the data underscore the pivotal role of Black voter participation in close statewide contests.
El-Sayed, a former public-health official, campaigned alongside prominent progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and former President Barack Obama. After losing the Democratic primary, Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers, a move that drew criticism from Democratic leaders and may have further energized Black voters for El-Sayed on Election Day.