Dr Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed (also known as Abdul El-Sayed) made history on 3 November 2026 by winning Michigan’s US Senate election, becoming the first Muslim American ever elected to the United States Senate. Representing the Democratic Party in Michigan, El-Sayed consistently faced intense, bad-faith Islamophobic attacks from political opponents and right-wing figures, including highly publicized rhetoric from President Donald Trump. Responding with dignity and resilience, El-Sayed consistently re-focused public attention onto practical issues impacting ordinary citizens like healthcare equity, environmental justice, and systemic political reform.

El-Sayed is a Rhodes Scholar who holds a doctorate in public health from the University of Oxford and a medical degree from Columbia University. He was an assistant professor of epidemiology and the public health director for the City of Detroit before entering politics. A prominent advocate for vulnerable populations, his courageous path and historic legislative victory serve as an inspiration for a new generation of Western Muslims seeking high public office.