Nov 4
On 3 November 2026, Abdul El-Sayed (Democrat) won Michigan's US Senate seat against Mike Rogers (Republican): he becomes the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. The event is political and historic — but on the money side, one figure stands out: over $180M in advertising poured into this single race.
$181M advertising spending in the 2026 Michigan Senate race (Axios, mid-October) — the most expensive in the state's history. All in (candidates, parties, outside groups), the Detroit News cites up to ~$243M. The backdrop: the election of Abdul El-Sayed, first Muslim in the US Senate.
