Abdul El-Sayed has made history in Michigan. The progressive Democrat has won Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers, according to a call by Decision Desk HQ early Wednesday morning. With his victory, El-Sayed becomes the first Muslim ever elected to the U.S. Senate.

With about three-quarters of the vote counted, El-Sayed led Rogers by roughly three and a half points. His win keeps the seat in Democratic hands. He succeeds retiring Sen. Gary Peters and adds to a night in which Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress.

A physician and epidemiologist, El-Sayed built his career in public health, including as a former Detroit public health official. He first stepped onto the statewide political stage with a run for governor in 2018 and returned this cycle as a Bernie Sanders–backed progressive running on bold, unapologetic positions.

His path to the Senate wasn’t easy. He defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in a hard-fought Democratic primary, and in a stunning twist, Stevens endorsed Rogers just two days before the election. Her longtime chief of staff resigned after the endorsement.

El-Sayed also faced attacks from President Donald Trump, who labeled him a socialist and a religious extremist. Rather than retreat, El-Sayed held firm on his positions, including his defense of health care for transgender patients, which put him at odds with Fox News host Jesse Watters in a heated August exchange.

For Muslim Americans, his victory marks a milestone generations in the making. The U.S. Senate has never before included a Muslim member. El-Sayed now joins a new Democratic majority as one of the most closely watched freshmen heading to Washington.