Abdul El-Sayed Confronts Attacks on His Faith and Family Ties NYT - Top Stories By: Reid J. Epstein · Brian M. Rosenthal and Michael Kruse 21 October 2026 at 19:23 In the final weeks of Michigan’s Senate race, the Democratic nominee finds himself facing both ugly attacks and pointed questions about family members. He has pushed back forcefully. © Zbigniew Bzdak for The New York TimesDr. Abdul El-Sayed, if he wins Michigan’s Senate race, would become the nation’s first Muslim senator.