El-Sayed wins 70.6% of Wayne County vote
Despite losing the primary in Detroit, the new U.S. senator secured strong support from Black voters, though exit polls show he trailed other Democratic nominees.
By Sofia Ramirez ·
Abdul El-Sayed defeated Mike Rogers in the 2026 Michigan U.S. Senate race, securing 70.6% of the vote in Wayne County. This result surpassed the 62.7% share that Kamala Harris received in the same region during the 2024 presidential election. The victory marked a decisive win for the former public health official, who had not previously held elected office.
Support from Black voters in Detroit proved essential to this outcome, though their backing was not assured. In the August primary, 62% of Detroit voters selected U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens over El-Sayed. At the time, many observers predicted El-Sayed would struggle to gain traction in a city that is approximately 75% Black. Following the primary loss, Stevens later endorsed Rogers after attending a service with him at a predominantly Black church in Detroit two days before the general election.
Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey reported that 209,924 residents voted in the 2026 midterms. This figure represents a roughly 21% increase over the 2022 midterm elections and stands slightly below the 247,770 ballots cast in the 2024 presidential contest. Unofficial city results indicate that 91.8% of Detroit voters supported El-Sayed in the general election.
Statewide, El-Sayed won 52% of the vote, a margin substantially wider than the 48.6% earned by Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024. Slotkin, a moderate Democrat, had previously defeated Rogers by a small margin. The data suggests that while Black voters overwhelmingly supported the Democratic ticket, they may have been reacting to Republican politics or economic concerns rather than endorsing El-Sayed’s specific progressive platform.
Exit poll data from NBC shows that 86% of Black voters in Michigan supported El-Sayed. This is lower than the 90% support garnered by Jocelyn Benson, who won the governorship over John James. In the 2022 gubernatorial race, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer received about 94% support among Black voters, according to an ABC exit poll. Researchers from Michigan State University note that precincts with more than 80% Black voters supported Democratic statewide candidates at a rate of 92% to 94% in 2024, a level slightly lower than the 94% to 95% observed in similar precincts in 2020.
Political scientists describe Black voter behavior as often driven by linked fate, a concept where choices reflect what is best for the group as a whole. Recent research indicates that social networks, including churches and civic organizations, reinforce expectations of political solidarity. One Black voter from Detroit told ABC News, “I felt like she pimped my community,” in response to Stevens’ last-minute endorsement of Rogers. This reaction suggests that Stevens' move may have mobilized Black voters to turn out for El-Sayed on Election Day.
El-Sayed campaigned with several progressive elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who endorsed him in 2025. He also sought support from the Black political establishment, including U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn. Former President Barack Obama spoke at a rally for El-Sayed in Detroit in October 2026. The senator’s agenda included supporting Medicare For All, lowering gas and grocery prices, and expanding the Rx Kids cash assistance program nationwide.
The election results demonstrate that small shifts in Black voter turnout and support can influence competitive races. While El-Sayed’s victory in 2026 contrasts with the 2024 defeat of Harris, the underlying dynamics of Democratic loyalty remain consistent. The data indicates that Black voters continue to serve as a critical bloc in Michigan politics, with their participation shaping the outcome of statewide contests.
