LANSING, Mich. (AP) – A former Michigan public health official and Democratic candidate for governor, Abdul El-Sayed, has officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming open U.S. Senate seat on Thursday. El-Sayed, 40, enters what is anticipated to be one of the most significant races in the 2026 midterm elections. He is the second Democrat to join the race this week following Democratic Senator Gary Peters’ announcement that he will not seek reelection.
In an interview following his announcement, El-Sayed stressed the challenges faced by many Michiganders, stating, “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 comments reflect a desire to address economic issues and improve living conditions for residents of Michigan.
Previously, El-Sayed attempted to secure the governor's office in 2018 when he ran as a progressive Democrat. He was endorsed by prominent figures like Senator Bernie Sanders but ultimately lost the primary to Gretchen Whitmer by more than 20 points. El-Sayed managed to outperform now U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar by over 12 points. Whitmer subsequently won the general election and is currently serving her second term, but constitutional term limits prevent her from seeking another term.
A resident of Ann Arbor, El-Sayed has an extensive background in public health. Recently, he served as the director of the Department of Health, Human & Veterans Services in Wayne County, which encompasses Detroit. Prior to this role, he was the public health director for the city during a challenging time shortly after Detroit declared bankruptcy in 2013.
Motivated to run for the Senate, El-Sayed has cited the extensive changes brought to the federal government by former President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk, particularly the modifications and budget cuts directed at the nation's top health agencies. He emphasized that simply opposing Republican policies is not enough, 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.”
Abdul El-Sayed joins state Senator Mallory McMorrow as a candidate in the Democratic primary to succeed Gary Peters. Other potential candidates in the Democratic field include U.S. Representative Haley Stevens and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, indicating a competitive landscape ahead for the party.
On the Republican side, former U.S. Representative Mike Rogers has also entered the race. Rogers launched his campaign on Monday after previously losing a Senate election by just 19,000 votes to Democrat Elissa Slotkin. With both parties gearing up for a significant battle in the upcoming elections, the dynamics of the Michigan Senate race have begun to take shape.
