Abdul El-Sayed was a three-sport captain and University of Michigan’s first Rhodes Scholar since 2004 - his athletic journey before winning Michigan’s Senate race

Abdul El Sayed won Michigan Senate: Long before Abdul El-Sayed'S run for the Us Senate, he was a teenager captaining three teams at a Michigan high school. He went on to play lacrosse at the University of Michigan and Oxford. Where he combined his love of the game with the academic work that earned him a Rhodes Scholarship.

His journey from the sports field to public life took him through some of the world’s leading universities, but lacrosse remained a memorable part of his early years.

Abdul El-Sayed Was Captain of Three High School Teams

At Bloomfield Hills High School in Michigan, El-Sayed captained the football, wrestling & lacrosse teams before graduating in 2003.


Sports had been part of his life well before that. During an interview with USA Lacrosse Magazine in 2018, he recalled, "I was a hockey goalie and I was really into football in seventh and eighth grade. When I got to high school, I realized I was either going to start developing in football or hockey."

By high school, he had decided to stick with football rather than hockey. With spring free, he tried lacrosse as a freshman. The game caught his attention, bringing together the speed and physicality he enjoyed in football with a different kind of challenge.

What began as a way to fill the spring season became a sport he continued playing through university and beyond.

Why Lacrosse Stayed With Michigan Senate Race Winner

El-Sayed studied biology and political science at the University of Michigan, where he played on the men’s club lacrosse team. He graduated in 2007 with highest distinction and delivered the commencement speech for his class.

The game gave him more than a place to compete. Looking back on those years, he spoke about the friendships he made and the people he met through the team.

He also reflected on being the only Egyptian-American on his team and among the teams they faced. In his interview, he described how playing lacrosse brought him into contact with people whose experiences differed from his own.

Not every experience was positive. He recalled facing racist and Islamophobic abuse from spectators during a game in California. He discussed the incident as part of his personal experience in the sport.

Abdul El-Sayed's Journey From Michigan to Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship

El-Sayed’s academic path was moving forward alongside his sporting life. After graduating from Michigan, he continued his medical & public health studies.

In 2009, he received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oriel College at the University of Oxford and he completed a doctorate in public health in 2011.

As per a Bridge Michigan report, he was the University of Michigan’s first Rhodes Scholar since 2004.

Moving to Oxford didn't mean leaving lacrosse behind. El-Sayed continued playing there, became the team captain and earned a full blue, the university’s highest level of athletic award.

How His Journey Led to Politics and Did Abdul El Sayed Win in Michigan Senate

After Oxford, El-Sayed completed his medical degree at Columbia University’s College of Physicians & Surgeons in 2014. He also joined Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health as an assistant professor that year.

He moved into public service in Michigan, becoming executive director of the Detroit Health Department in 2015. Two years later, he left the position to run for governor. He finished second to Gretchen Whitmer in the 2018 Democratic primary.

El-Sayed later led Wayne County’s Department of Health, Human and Veteran Services, but he left the role in 2025 to pursue a US Senate seat.

He won the Democratic Senate primary in August 2026 by defeating Haley Stevens.

El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s US Senate race, with the Associated Press calling the election for the Democrat on November 4, 2026.