Night of US history sees election firsts across creed, colour and sexuality

The US has elected its first openly gay male and Muslim senators. asserted

Chris Pappas and Dr Abdul El-Sayed made history by securing a seat in the Senate, while America's first black female governor was elected in Georgia. asserted

Democrat Dr El-Sayed beat Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan despite an Islamophobic hate campaign that included claims he was linked to terrorists. uncertain

Vice President JD Vance had described him as 'very, very evil', while Donald Trump repeatedly referred to the Democrat as a 'jihadist'. asserted

Other Republicans also alleged he had ties to the controversial Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood, which Dr El-Sayed, 42, has denied. asserted

Their attacks also focused on the fact that his mother was an Egyptian immigrant. asserted

His parents split up when he was three and he was raised by his father and stepmother in Missouri, Florida and Michigan. asserted

After the separation, his mother lived in Egypt and later in Missouri, where she worked for a charity designated by the US as a supporter of terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda. asserted

The charity, Islamic American Relief Agency, funded social services for children in Africa and Asia, according to records. uncertain

It was shut down in 2004. asserted

Dr Abdul El-Sayed became the first openly Muslim male senator, winning in Michigan despite facing Islamophobic attacks and false allegations linking him to terrorism and the Muslim Brotherhood Attendees react to reports of Michigan Governor candidate Jocelyn Benson being projected as the winner during Michigan Democrats' election night watch party in Detroit, Michigan Dr El-Sayed's mother was a low-ranking worker and never accused of any wrongdoing. The new senator taunted Mr Vance during his victory speech on Tuesday night, saying: 'JD, habibi [an affectionate Arabic term], there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January.' Meanwhile, Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man elected to the Senate after defeating Republican John Sununu in New Hampshire. asserted

A descendant of Greek immigrants, Mr Pappas also made history in 2018 when he became New Hampshire's first openly gay member of Congress. asserted

During his campaign he drew criticism within the Democratic Party for supporting a bill restricting healthcare for transgender children in 2024. asserted

Elsewhere, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, became the first black female governor in the US after winning in Georgia. asserted

Before entering politics, she worked as a lawyer and served as a magistrate judge. asserted