Abdul El-Sayed has become the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, making him the first Muslim nominated by the party for that seat. His nomination has drawn both celebration and a wave of anti-Muslim attacks, which he has dismissed as fearmongering and Islamophobia. He is now trying to unify Democrats after a contentious primary and has said he spoke with Barack Obama and hopes Obama will campaign with him. El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in a race seen as important for control of the Senate.