EL-SAYED BEATS ROGERS TO WIN MICHIGAN SENATE SEAT

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has won the race for an open US Senate seat in Michigan, defeating Republican Mike Rogers. El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, becomes the first Muslim senator in US history. He previously served as Wayne County's health director and campaigned on Medicare for All and criticism of Israel's actions. Addressing supporters on Wednesday, he said: "To all the parents who struggled to explain why the president openly mocks someone for their name or how they pray, let them know tomorrow that the bad guys lost."

The seat became open after Democratic Senator Gary Peters announced his retirement. No Republican has won a Senate race in Michigan since 1994, and the contest became a focal point in the national fight for control of the Senate. More than $100m was spent on advertising in the race since the primary on 4 August. El-Sayed said: "We showed that in a battle between the money and the many that the many can win." Democratic ranks split in the final days of campaigning, after Haley Stevens, his opponent in the Democratic primary, said she backed Rogers and accused El-Sayed's campaign of "hate".

El-Sayed accused President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance of directing Islamophobic and racially charged rhetoric at him. He told Trump: "Donald, I know you struggled with my name. So after JD swears me in in January, you can just go on to call me 'Senator.'" The Michigan race formed part of wider US midterm elections, in which Democrats also won a Senate seat in North Carolina and held onto seats in New Hampshire and Georgia. El-Sayed is due to be sworn into the Senate in January.