Who is Abdul El-Sayed?

Abdul El-Sayed is Michigan鈥檚 Democratic Senate nominee after defeating Rep. Haley Stevens in the state鈥檚 Democratic primary race in August. The socialist Democrat will run against former Rep. Mike Rogers for Sen. Gary Peters鈥� open seat in November 2026.

El-Sayed was born in Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan before getting his medical degree from Columbia University and a doctorate in public health from Oxford University. The former Wayne County Health Department director had a prior political run in 2018, when he ran for governor and lost the primary to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

El-Sayed鈥檚 campaign has centered around promises like fighting for 鈥淢edicare for All,鈥� as well as abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. A victory for El-Sayed in November would make him the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate.