First Muslim US Senator and More: Muslim Election Firsts in 2026
In the United States midterm elections on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, Muslim candidates won a series of firsts. Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan became the first Muslim ever elected to the United States Senate, Adam Hamawy became New Jersey’s first Muslim member of Congress, and Aber Kawas became the first Palestinian American elected to the New York State Legislature. All results below are projections as called by the Associated Press and other major outlets, and remain subject to official certification.
Key Points
- Abdul El-Sayed (Democrat, Michigan) is projected to be the first Muslim elected to the US Senate, with about 52% of the vote.
- Adam Hamawy (Democrat, New Jersey) is projected to be New Jersey’s first Muslim member of Congress, with about 74% of the vote.
- Aber Kawas (Democrat, New York) is projected to be the first Palestinian American in the New York State Legislature — the STATE Senate in Albany, not the US Senate.
- At least 36 Muslim candidates won or were leading across federal, state and local races, according to early tracking reported on 6 November 2026.
- The new Congress is sworn in in January 2027; official certification of the results was still pending when these results were called.
Abdul El-Sayed — First Muslim Elected to the US Senate
Abdul El-Sayed, a 42-year-old physician and former Wayne County health director of Egyptian descent, won Michigan’s open Senate seat for the Democrats, defeating Republican Mike Rogers. The Associated Press called the race at 02:27 ET on Wednesday, 4 November, with about 85% of votes counted: El-Sayed on about 51.9% and Rogers on about 46.1%. Later counts put El-Sayed at about 52%. He had beaten Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary, and succeeds Gary Peters, who retired and did not seek re-election. He will be sworn in with the new Congress in January 2027.
Adam Hamawy — New Jersey’s First Muslim Member of Congress
Adam Hamawy, a 57-year-old Egyptian-American surgeon and former US Army combat surgeon who volunteered in hospitals in Gaza, won New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District for the Democrats, defeating Republican Gregg Mele. The Associated Press put the result at 74.1% to 23.9%. He succeeds retiring Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, and is the first Muslim — and the first Arab-American — to represent New Jersey in the US House of Representatives.
Aber Kawas — First Palestinian American in the New York State Legislature
Aber Kawas, a community organiser, won New York State Senate District 12 in Queens — covering Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside and Long Island City — for the Democrats, defeating Republican Han-Khon To. The New York Times called the race with about 75% of the vote and 90% counted. She is the first Palestinian American elected to the New York State Legislature, and the first hijab-wearing woman elected to the state legislature. She had won the Democratic primary in June 2026.
Please note the distinction: this is the New York STATE Senate, which meets in Albany. It is not the United States Senate in Washington. Kawas is a state senator-elect; El-Sayed is the US senator-elect.
The Wider Picture
Early tracking reported on 6 November 2026 counted at least 36 Muslim candidates who had won or were leading across federal, state and local races. Eight were headed to Congress — one senator and seven members of the House — according to preliminary reports, with one race still depending on a lead holding. Rashida Tlaib won a fifth term in the House. No final nationwide total should be treated as settled: counts were still being certified on 4–6 November 2026, and the figures in this article are projections, not certified results.
What Happens Next?
The results must still be formally certified by each state. The winners will take their seats when the new Congress is sworn in in January 2027. El-Sayed will take the Michigan seat vacated by Gary Peters; Hamawy will take the New Jersey seat vacated by Bonnie Watson Coleman; Kawas will take her seat in the New York State Senate in Albany.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the first Muslim elected to the US Senate?
Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, a Democrat, is projected to be the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, winning the open Michigan seat in the 3 November 2026 midterm elections with about 52% of the vote.
Who is Adam Hamawy?
Adam Hamawy is a 57-year-old Egyptian-American surgeon and former US Army combat surgeon who won New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District in 2026, becoming New Jersey’s first Muslim member of Congress with about 74% of the vote.
Is Aber Kawas a US senator?
No. Aber Kawas was elected to the New York STATE Senate in Albany, representing District 12 in Queens. She is the first Palestinian American elected to the New York State Legislature and the first hijab-wearing woman elected to the state legislature. She is not a member of the US Senate in Washington.
When were the 2026 US midterm elections held?
The midterm elections were held on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, and the results in this article were called early on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. All figures are projections subject to official certification.
How many Muslim candidates won in the 2026 elections?
Early tracking reported on 6 November 2026 counted at least 36 Muslim candidates who had won or were leading across federal, state and local races, including eight headed to Congress. A final nationwide total was not settled at the time of writing, as certification was still under way.
Sources: USA Today; Associated Press; NorthJersey; The New York Times; Dawn; CAIR
Related reading: For American Muslim life and community questions, see our post on whether Muslims can celebrate Thanksgiving. For halal food questions in the USA and Canada, see our Popeyes guide.
