Abdul El-Sayed
Physician · Epidemiologist · Politician
Known as the 2026 Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan and former Detroit health director.
Overview
Abdul El-Sayed is a physician and epidemiologist who won Michigan’s 2026 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, beating Rep. Haley Stevens, and faces Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election. He led the Detroit Health Department from 2015 to 2017 and later ran Wayne County’s health, human and veterans services department from 2023 to 2025. He also made a 2018 run for Michigan governor. Raised in southeast Michigan, he studied at the University of Michigan, earned a doctorate at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and received his medical degree from Columbia University. If he wins, he would be the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Quick Facts
- Occupation
- Physician, Epidemiologist, Politician
- Born
- October 31, 1984 in Rochester Hills, Michigan
- Official links
- X · Official site
Connections
- Senate election opponent
- Mike Rogers (2026)
- Senate primary opponent
- Haley Stevens (2026)
Latest PCP Coverage
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The 2026 Midterms, the Pop Culture Edition: The Stars, Races and Poll Times to Know
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. From the Friday Night Lights cast in Texas to Nicki Minaj in Michigan and a former…
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Haley Stevens’ Staff Quits, Michigan Democrats Cut Her Loose, and the Internet Names Her ‘Fetterwoman’
After Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers, her chief of staff and much of her team resigned, Michigan’s Democratic Party chair…
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Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers, and Democrats Call It a ‘Despicable Betrayal’
Two days before Michigan votes, Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for Senate over Abdul El-Sayed, the nominee who beat…