Abdul El-Sayed
Democratic · MI
Official website · X (Twitter)
A doctor and epidemiologist who led Wayne County's health department and erased medical debt for tens of thousands of residents. He would focus on Medicare for All, getting corporate money out of politics, and lowering costs.
Where Abdul El-Sayed stands, based on their records
Supports
Healthcare Affordability (6 records), Environment and Public Health (11 records), Reduce Wealth Gap (2 records),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 6 support
El-Sayed testified before the U.S. Senate HELP Committee on July 11, 2024 about Wayne County's medical-debt program and the national effects of healthcare debt.
July 11, 2024Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: help.senate.gov
As Wayne County health director, helped launch a county partnership with Undue Medical Debt designed to purchase and forgive as much as $700 million in qualifying residents' medical debt.
March 7, 2024Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: waynecountymi.gov
El-Sayed testified at the U.S. Senate Budget Committee's May 12, 2022 hearing supporting Medicare for All.
May 12, 2022Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: budget.senate.gov
El-Sayed served on the Biden-Sanders health unity task force that submitted recommendations on July 8, 2020 to expand healthcare access, address health inequities, and protect reproductive rights.
July 8, 2020Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: presidency.ucsb.edu
Endorsed Bernie Sanders for president, citing Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, free college, and opposition to corporate money in politics.
November 21, 2019Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: presidency.ucsb.edu
Partnered Detroit's health department with Vision To Learn to launch a mobile program providing free eye exams and glasses to Detroit students.
October 12, 2016Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: wdet.org
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 11 support
On February 2, 2026, El-Sayed gave expert testimony in a Wayne County trial about cancer and accident risks associated with proposed radioactive-waste shipments.
February 2, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: planetdetroit.org
On May 8, 2024, Wayne County launched 100 operational air-quality monitors across all 43 county communities under El-Sayed's health department to identify pollution hotspots and inform enforcement decisions.
May 8, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: michiganpublic.org
As Wayne County health director, helped launch the Well Wayne Stations initiative to provide free naloxone and drug-checking supplies through public vending machines and outdoor boxes across the county.
January 31, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: clickondetroit.com
On August 25, 2023, Wayne County Health Officer Abdul El-Sayed co-issued a public-health advisory after flooding caused partially treated wastewater to enter the Lower River Rouge.
August 25, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: utility.waynecountymi.gov
Signed a Wayne County public-health emergency order for the juvenile detention facility and was assigned to lead the incident command center addressing overcrowding, unsafe conditions, and treatment delays.
March 22, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: bridgedetroit.com
Endorsed Bernie Sanders for president, citing Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, free college, and opposition to corporate money in politics.
November 21, 2019Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: presidency.ucsb.edu
On April 26, 2019, El-Sayed published an argument supporting the Green New Deal as both climate policy and public-health policy.
April 26, 2019Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: theguardian.com
A February 17, 2017 University of Michigan record reported that Detroit's Health Department more than doubled in size and city support for public health increased five-fold during El-Sayed's first year leading it.
February 17, 2017Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: sph.umich.edu
Led the Detroit Health Department when it received more than $1 million in grants for early-childhood services, asthma care, environmental health, and teen-pregnancy prevention.
January 19, 2017Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: detroitmi.gov
By May 3, 2016, El-Sayed's Detroit Health Department had restarted child lead screenings and secured a $135,000 grant to help test school water for lead.
May 3, 2016Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: statnews.com
On January 6, 2016, Detroit Health Director Abdul El-Sayed represented the city at a public hearing and opposed Marathon Petroleum's request to increase sulfur-dioxide emissions.
January 6, 2016Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: cbsnews.com
Track record — Reduce Wealth Gap
Reduce Wealth Gap · 2 support
El-Sayed testified before the U.S. Senate HELP Committee on July 11, 2024 about Wayne County's medical-debt program and the national effects of healthcare debt.
July 11, 2024Supports Reduce Wealth Gap
Source: help.senate.gov
As Wayne County health director, helped launch a county partnership with Undue Medical Debt designed to purchase and forgive as much as $700 million in qualifying residents' medical debt.
March 7, 2024Supports Reduce Wealth Gap
Source: waynecountymi.gov
Track record — Anti-Corruption
Anti-Corruption · 2 support
Endorsed Bernie Sanders for president, citing Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, free college, and opposition to corporate money in politics.
November 21, 2019Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: presidency.ucsb.edu
El-Sayed launched Southpaw Michigan on September 24, 2018 to support progressive candidates and causes, and the group backed ballot measures on independent redistricting, voting access, and marijuana legalization.
September 24, 2018Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: cbsnews.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 oppose
A February 17, 2017 University of Michigan record reported that Detroit's Health Department more than doubled in size and city support for public health increased five-fold during El-Sayed's first year leading it.
February 17, 2017Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: sph.umich.edu
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 1 support
El-Sayed launched Southpaw Michigan on September 24, 2018 to support progressive candidates and causes, and the group backed ballot measures on independent redistricting, voting access, and marijuana legalization.
September 24, 2018Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: cbsnews.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 4 support
Signed a Wayne County public-health emergency order for the juvenile detention facility and was assigned to lead the incident command center addressing overcrowding, unsafe conditions, and treatment delays.
March 22, 2023Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: bridgedetroit.com
Led the Detroit Health Department when it received more than $1 million in grants for early-childhood services, asthma care, environmental health, and teen-pregnancy prevention.
January 19, 2017Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: detroitmi.gov
Partnered Detroit's health department with Vision To Learn to launch a mobile program providing free eye exams and glasses to Detroit students.
October 12, 2016Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: wdet.org
By May 3, 2016, El-Sayed's Detroit Health Department had restarted child lead screenings and secured a $135,000 grant to help test school water for lead.
May 3, 2016Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: statnews.com
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 support
El-Sayed served on the Biden-Sanders health unity task force that submitted recommendations on July 8, 2020 to expand healthcare access, address health inequities, and protect reproductive rights.
July 8, 2020Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: presidency.ucsb.edu
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support
El-Sayed served on the Biden-Sanders health unity task force that submitted recommendations on July 8, 2020 to expand healthcare access, address health inequities, and protect reproductive rights.
July 8, 2020Supports Civil Rights
Source: presidency.ucsb.edu
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 2 support
On May 8, 2024, Wayne County launched 100 operational air-quality monitors across all 43 county communities under El-Sayed's health department to identify pollution hotspots and inform enforcement decisions.
May 8, 2024Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: michiganpublic.org
On January 6, 2016, Detroit Health Director Abdul El-Sayed represented the city at a public hearing and opposed Marathon Petroleum's request to increase sulfur-dioxide emissions.
January 6, 2016Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: cbsnews.com
Track record — General
General · 9 records
Received Senator Elizabeth Warren's endorsement for the 2026 U.S. Senate election.
July 20, 2026
Source: wghn.com
Received Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's endorsement for the 2026 U.S. Senate election.
July 2, 2026
Source: theguardian.com
On June 26, 2026, Bridge Michigan found that El-Sayed had overstated completed Wayne County medical-debt relief: the county reported $57.4 million erased compared with the program's potential $700 million goal.
June 26, 2026
Source: bridgemi.com
Received Senator Chris Van Hollen's endorsement for the 2026 U.S. Senate election.
June 25, 2026
Source: apnews.com
Received the United Auto Workers' endorsement for the 2026 U.S. Senate election.
June 5, 2026
Source: uaw-newsroom.prgloo.com
Received Senator Bernie Sanders' endorsement for the 2026 U.S. Senate election.
April 17, 2025
Source: apnews.com
Was approved by the Wayne County Commission as Local Health Officer, effective March 1, after the commission had approved him as Health, Human and Veterans Services director.
April 11, 2023
Source: waynecountymi.gov
Michigan's official resolved-complaints index records an August 3, 2018 campaign-finance complaint against Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan and says the state found no reason to believe a violation occurred.
August 3, 2018
Source: michigan.gov
Abdul El-Sayed began serving as Detroit's executive director of public health on August 25, 2015, with responsibility for rebuilding the city's health department.
August 25, 2015
Source: publichealth.columbia.edu
Past races Abdul El-Sayed ran in:
- U.S. Senate · November 3, 2026 · Michigan
- U.S. Senate · August 4, 2026 · Michigan