El-Sayed Called Winner of Michigan Senate Race

Abdul El-Sayed has been called the winner of Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican Mike Rogers and positioning himself to become the first Muslim American elected to the chamber. The Associated Press called the race early Wednesday, while Decision Desk HQ also projected El-Sayed as the winner. The supplied election-night reports do not include certified final results.

A vote-count snapshot cited with the Associated Press call showed El-Sayed leading 53% to 46%, with more than 95% of estimated votes reported. Decision Desk HQ’s figures, reported as of 1:47 a.m. local time, showed El-Sayed at 51.77% and Rogers at 46.23%. Those snapshots reflect different reporting times and counting scopes, rather than final certified totals.

At a victory rally in Detroit, El-Sayed thanked supporters and said he was honored to stand as Michigan’s senator-elect. His election will fill the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, according to one account, and keep it in Democratic hands. The reports describe his victory as a milestone for Muslim Americans; one also identifies him as the first Egyptian American elected to the Senate.

El-Sayed, a doctor and former public health...