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Democrat Abdul El-Sayed declares victory in razor-tight Michigan race on the way to becoming the first Muslim Senator in US history

Far-left Abdul El-Sayed becomes first Muslim Senator in history after winning vicious Michigan race: Democrat sends message to Trump after defying mutiny to take seat

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed will be the first Muslim Senator in US history after he defeated Republican Mike Rogers in a fiercely contested and vicious race that was rocked by an eleventh-hour betrayal from his formal primary rival.

The 41-year-old progressive's victory was one of the political earthquakes on midterm election night that saw Democrats retake control of both the House and Senate in a devastating blow for Donald Trump's final two years in the White House.

By Wednesday morning, a series of deep-red states had turned blue to help Democrats seize Congress in results that could mark the beginning of the end for the MAGA era.

In Texas, Democratic newcomer James Talarico defeated Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton, while South Carolina elected a Democrat senator for the first time since 1998.

Most remarkably of all, Kansas sent a Democrat to the US Senate, which it had not done since 1932 during the Great Depression.

There were further stunning Democrat Senate victories in Iowa and Ohio, states Trump won by more than 10 points in the presidential election in 2024.

'Michigan, we did it,' El-Sayed exclaimed before a crowd after 1:30am eastern. 

'To President Trump, I know you struggle with my name. So after JD swears me in, you can just call me senator,' he said, referring to the vice president. 

His declaration followed a dramatic final stretch in which former Democratic primary rival Haley Stevens stunned the party by endorsing Rogers on the eve of the election.

Stevens doubled down with a barrage of attacks on El-Sayed, igniting a furious Democratic feud. But her defection also galvanized his supporters, with party heavyweights and major donors rallying behind the nominee.

El-Sayed’s campaign raised $2.4 million on Sunday – its largest single-day haul – as Stevens appeared alongside Rogers at a church event to cement her cross-party endorsement.

Republicans have not won a Michigan Senate race since 1994, have not won this particular seat since 1972 and have not won a non-presidential statewide election in the state since 2014.

Abdul El-Sayed has won the Michigan Senate race, surviving a late defection by a former rival that rattled the nerves of Democrats

El-Sayed has survived the ultimate midterm betrayal after former Democratic primary rival Haley Stevens stunned the party by endorsing his Republican opponent

El-Sayed, who was supported at a rally by former President Barack Obama, focused his campaign on the cost-of-living and Iran war, telling voters that 'Donald Trump's war in Iran is on the ballot.' 

'Your gas prices are on the ballot,' he hammered.

Gas is currently at about $4.83 a gallon in Michigan, according to AAA.

On the Republican side, President Donald Trump personally traveled to Michigan to give Rogers a major boost, headlining a rally with him and making vicious, and personal, attacks against El-Sayed and his supporters. 

'If Abdul and the Democrats win, they will open the floodgates and invite hordes of jihadis to our shores, creating a nightmare of violence and terror until you cannot even have a Christmas,' Trump told thousands of attendees gathered in Port Huron.

Trump said El-Sayed 'would be screened and unable to get a seat on an airplane. They certainly should not give him a seat in the United States Senate.' 

Trump also attacked Jewish voters backing El-Sayed, saying 'Any Jewish person that supports this guy should be ashamed of themselves'.

El-Sayed was largely disciplined in responding by returning the conversation around costs. 

In Grand Rapids he said the Republican strategy was 'to point at me and my name and my faith. But my name and my faith are not the reason you can't afford your gas.'

El–Sayed and former Vice President Kamala Harris participate in a roundtable discussion on reproductive health at Birth Detroit in Detroit, Michigan

Rogers shakes hands with Trump during a rally ahead of the midterm elections at an entertainment complex in Port Huron, Michigan

Rogers and conservative surrogates actively questioned El–Sayed's loyalties, alleging connections to groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, claims El–Sayed strongly rejected as Islamophobic attacks designed to distract from policy issues.

Heading into Election Day, public polling aggregators pointed to an exceptionally tight race, showing El–Sayed holding a narrow lead with a few percentage points over Rogers.

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Blake Lively looked as if she had some new pep in her step when she was spotted out in New York City on Tuesday night in a stunning little black dress.

The 39-year-old Gossip Girl star was spotted out in Manhattan's Upper East Side for an event celebrating the launch of jeweler Brent Neale's new holiday collection, according to E! News.

Although Lively was reportedly joined by friends, her husband Ryan Reynolds, 50, didn't appear by her side.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Lively's representative for comment but hasn't yet heard back. 

Lively – who recently revealed her over-the-top beauty regimen – channeled classic glamour in her skimpy black dress, which was decorated with glittering sequins.

The off-the-shoulder minidress featured a playful black bow that covered her cleavage for a touch of modesty.

Blake Lively looked as if she had some new pep in her step when she was spotted out in New York City on Tuesday night in a stunning little black dress

The 39-year-old Gossip Girl star was spotted out in Manhattan's Upper West Side for an event celebrating the launch of jeweler Brent Neale's new holiday collection, according to E! News

Lively – who recently revealed her over-the-top beauty regimen – channeled classic glamour in her skimpy black dress, which was decorated with glittering sequins

Lively's short skirt showcased her toned legs, which culminated in clear Louboutins that strapped around her ankles and featured black-tipped toes.

The It Ends with Us star, who is stepping out in the wake of her bruising legal drama with her former costar and director Justin Baldoni, wore her long blond hair in dramatic waves cascading down her shoulders.

She completed her glamorous ensemble with a simple black leather hobo handbag, and she added some extra sparkle with dangling earrings and multiple enormous sparkling rings.

Lively looked as if she was on top of the world as she beamed for photographers outside the shindig.

The outing comes after Lively revealed the secrets of the beauty regimen she uses to look as if she's in the 'first trimester of life' last week.

The actress took to her Instagram Story to share a candid clip of the nighttime routine she uses to maintain her 'natural beauty.'

She appeared to be wearing headgear with red-light therapy over her hair, in addition to a sheet mask with extra pieces she had pasted to her bare face. 

The Gossip Girl alumna was also bundled up in a brown fleece hoodie while seemingly winding down for the night with her beauty routine.

The off-the-shoulder minidress featured a playful black bow that covered her cleavage for a touch of modesty

Lively's short skirt showcased her toned legs, which culminated in clear Louboutins that strapped around her ankles and featured black-tipped toes

The It Ends with Us star wore her long blond hair in dramatic waves cascading down her shoulders

She completed her glamorous ensemble with a simple black leather hobo handbag

Lively added some extra sparkle with dangling earrings and multiple enormous sparkling rings

Lively looked as if she was on top of the world as she beamed for photographers outside the shindig

The outing comes after Lively revealed the secrets of her beauty regimen last week

She joked that her go-to products make her look as if she's in the 'first trimester of life'

The actress took to her Instagram Story to share a candid clip of the nighttime routine she uses to maintain her 'natural beauty' 

Lively gave a glimpse into her cozy wind-down routine shortly after the drama involving her film It Ends With Us and her director and costar Justin Baldoni. 

'Natural beauty is effortless,' she quipped at the bottom of her post, which pictured her taking a deep breath while the mask covered her face.

Lively also drew thought bubbles around her face, and in one, she wrote: 'If I don't look like I'm in the first trimester of life after this much effort I quit.' 

She continued: 'I miss the 2000s when we just used that handsoap with fish characters on it on our face & called it a day.' 

The Gossip Girl star also noted the lights in the background of her room in another thought bubble: 'My kids' star projector that I stole is a vibe tho.'

She set her candid post to the tune of Fergie and Ludacris' 2006 smash hit Glamorous.

The mother of four – who shares James, 11; Inez, ten; Betty, seven; and Olin, three, with her husband Ryan Reynolds – often shares snippets of her hair and beauty routines on social media.

In August, she shared a video of herself getting ready in her bathroom before rushing out the door as a busy mother and businesswoman. 

The mother of four – who shares James, 11; Inez, ten; Betty, seven; and Olin, three, with her husband Ryan Reynolds – often shares snippets of her hair and beauty routines on social media; above with Reynolds in April 2025 in NYC

In August, she shared a video of herself getting ready in her bathroom before rushing out the door as a busy mother and businesswoman

Her post comes after she was in a legal battle with Baldoni, and the former costars settled right before their trial was set to begin. Baldoni was ultimately ordered to pay $400,000 of Lively's legal fees earlier this year; pictured together in It Ends With Us

'The look: no time but need to look cute while ALSO raising children,' the movie star, who was seen using products from her Blake Brown haircare brand, wrote over the clip. 

'Moment of truth: bun out after running around the city,' she continued, before almost running out the door with her pants unbuttoned.

Her post comes after she was in a legal battle with Baldoni, and the former costars settled right before their trial was set to begin. 

Baldoni was ultimately ordered to pay $400,000 of Lively's legal fees. 

Lively previously sued Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer in December 2024. 

Right before their trial was set to begin earlier this year, Lively was awarded just over $400,000 of the $8 million she sought in legal fees from their dispute due to his countersuit. 

In her lawsuit, Lively asserted that she was subjected to sexual harassment as well as retaliation, alleging he orchestrated a smear campaign to harm her reputation after she brought up complaints about his behavior on set.  

In response, Baldoni denied harassment and claimed Lively made complaints to seize creative control of the movie. 

In June 2025, the countersuit was thrown out. In May of this year, just two weeks before the scheduled trial date, the former costars reached their settlement.

They also released a joint statement, writing that they 'remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.' 

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