Nicki Minaj’s Senate pick Mike Rogers fell short in his bid for a Michigan seat, with Decision Desk HQ projecting Democrat Abdul El-Sayed as the winner. The election forecaster called the race at 1:15 a.m. Eastern on November 4. The seat was previously held by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, and this projected victory would make El-Sayed the first Muslim U.S. senator.
Minaj had been a vocal supporter of the Republican candidate, urging voters to support Rogers and Michigan gubernatorial candidate John James during a Donald Trump rally on October 25 at McMorran Place Arena in Port Huron. Throughout the campaign, the rapper also publicly criticized El-Sayed, specifically targeting his appearance on the show Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know. Minaj interpreted El-Sayed’s reflections on his upbringing as jealousy, stating on October 31, “He needs to mend his heart before thinking about running for any office.”
The race saw significant involvement from the hip-hop community. Common actively backed El-Sayed, performing at his final Detroit rally on November 2. The event, held at the Majestic Theater, drew over 650 attendees and featured appearances by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other prominent Democratic leaders. El-Sayed’s campaign also utilized cultural touchstones, incorporating Eminem‘s 2010 anthem “Not Afraid” into his final campaign video.
El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, ran on a progressive platform that included universal health care. After defeating Rep. Haley Stevens in the August 4 Democratic primary, he secured a victory in the general election following a contest that saw over $100 million in advertising spend. Rogers, a former congressman and chair of the House Intelligence Committee, had aligned his campaign closely with Donald Trump, but ultimately could not overcome the Democratic momentum in the state.
