Abdul El-Sayed
DPhysician and epidemiologist; former director and health officer, Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services (2022–2025)
Won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary
El-Sayed is a physician and epidemiologist who ran the Detroit Health Department after the city's bankruptcy and later ran an unsuccessful 2018 campaign for Michigan governor. He was director and health officer for the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services from 2022 to 2025 before entering the Senate race.[2]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Positions on the issues
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Supports enacting Medicare for All.[1]
“I literally wrote the book on Medicare for All because healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. ... I will sponsor legislation to enact M4A and eliminate medical debt nationwide. M4A guarantees comprehensive coverage, eliminates co-pays and deductibles, and lowers overall costs through reducing administrative waste and negotiating drug prices.”
In their words — priorities
Background
- Earned a B.S. in biology and political science from the University of Michigan (2007), a D.Phil. in public health from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar (2011), and an M.D. from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (2014).[2]
- Hired in 2015 to lead Detroit's newly privatized health department after the city's bankruptcy; served until February 2017, when he left to run for governor.[2]
- Served as director and health officer for the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services from 2022 to 2025.[2]
Campaign money
Raised $14.5M · spent $12.0M · $2.6M cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗