LANSING, Mich. — Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official in Michigan and a past Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has officially entered the race for the open U.S. Senate seat in the state. On Thursday, he announced his candidacy, becoming the second Democrat in the running for what promises to be a hotly contested race in the 2026 midterm elections. This week marks the second time a candidate has declared their intentions to vie for the seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who has decided not to seek reelection.
Reflecting on the difficulties faced by many in America, El-Sayed stated, “It’s way too hard to survive here in the richest, most powerful country in the world, and it should not be this hard to get by.” His statement highlights his platform’s focus on addressing economic challenges and improving living conditions. In 2018, El-Sayed ran as a progressive under the Democratic ticket for governor, gaining an endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders. Despite his vigorous campaign, he finished second in the Democratic primary behind Gretchen Whitmer, who later won the general election and is currently serving her second term as governor. As Whitmer cannot seek another term due to term limits, El-Sayed’s engagement in state politics persists.
Sen. Sanders has once again shown his support by endorsing El-Sayed for the Senate race. Sanders praised El-Sayed as a physician who deeply understands the flaws and high costs of the current health care system, emphasizing his support for Medicare for All. El-Sayed resides in Ann Arbor and has experience as the director of the Department of Health, Human & Veterans Services in Wayne County, which includes Detroit. Before that role, he managed Detroit’s public health system following the city’s declaration of bankruptcy in 2013.
The motivation to compete for the Senate seat stems from his reaction to the overhaul of federal government policies under former President Donald Trump and influential figures like Elon Musk, particularly focusing on the performed changes and budget cuts to major health agencies. El-Sayed argues that Democrats need to present innovative solutions and not merely oppose Republican policies to gain public trust, stating, “You have to come with your own independent analysis of what you think the problem is and how you want to solve it if you want to earn the trust of the public.”
Joining the Democratic race alongside El-Sayed is State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, while other prominent figures like U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel are considering their candidacies. The Republican front includes former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who recently initiated his campaign after narrowly losing a Senate race last year to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by 19,000 votes.