Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate

What happened

Updated 3:52pm ET

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race and said Wednesday that voters rejected a “hateful, spiteful campaign.”
El-Sayed led by about 7 percentage points with roughly 97% of votes counted, keeping retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters’ seat in Democratic hands.
President Donald Trump repeatedly called El-Sayed a “jihadist” during the campaign, and El-Sayed said Republicans targeted his Muslim identity instead of addressing voters’ costs.
El-Sayed campaigned on lowering living costs, Medicare for All and reducing corporate influence in politics, winning as Democrats secured a Senate majority.
He is set to take office on January 3 as the first Muslim U.S. senator.

How the left told it

Left-leaning outlets framed El-Sayed’s victory as a rejection of anti-Muslim attacks and a breakthrough for progressives. The Guardian emphasized his historic win after a “largely Islamophobic campaign,” while HuffPost called it a “notable win for the left wing.” MS NOW’s opinion coverage argued that progressive candidates could win battleground states.

How the right told it

Right-leaning outlets largely emphasized El-Sayed’s combative style and left-wing politics. Fox News described a “gloating victory speech,” while the New York Post highlighted his taunts rather than reconciliation. The Washington Examiner examined whether his challenges to Democratic leaders would complicate Chuck Schumer’s efforts to hold the Senate caucus together.