Mike Rogers leads Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan Senate race poll

A new poll for the Detroit News and WDIV-TV shows Republican Mike Rogers leading Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s open U.S. Senate race. Rogers holds a 45.8 percent share to El-Sayed’s 44.4 percent among 600 likely voters. The 1.4-point margin falls within the survey’s four-point margin of error, placing the contest in toss-up territory and reversing previous polling that favored El-Sayed.

In the broader context of the 2026 midterm elections, Republican figures have increasingly focused on Muslim identity and Islam as campaign issues. Vice President JD Vance criticized El-Sayed during a rally, while Texas Governor Greg Abbott has raised concerns regarding proposed Muslim-led developments. In Alabama, Senator Tommy Tuberville has also utilized rhetoric regarding radical Islam in his gubernatorial campaign.

While critics argue this rhetoric unfairly targets the Muslim community, Republicans maintain they are addressing legitimate security and extremism concerns. The Muslim American population has grown to approximately 5.5 million people, representing about 1.6 percent of the U.S. population.