Abdul El-Sayed (born 1984) is a physician, epidemiologist, and former public health official. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University and obtained a doctorate from Oxford University after being named a Rhodes Scholar. He previously served as Detroit's Health Director (2015-2018) and Wayne County Health Director (2023-2025). He is also host of the podcast 'America Dissected' and author of 'Healing Politics: A Doctor's Journey into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic' and 'Medicare for All: A Citizen's Guide.' He is Muslim and was born and raised in Southeast Michigan to Egyptian immigrant parents.
El-Sayed was born and raised in Southeast Michigan to Egyptian immigrant parents. After earning his medical degree from Columbia, he initially practiced medicine but became increasingly involved in public health work. He managed Detroit's privatized Health Department post-bankruptcy in 2015 and was recognized as one of youngest city health officials in U.S. He later restructured Wayne County's Department of Health to serve 1.8 million residents. He removed lead from schools, expanded Narcan access, and spearheaded program canceling up to $700 million in medical debt for 300,000 Michiganders. El-Sayed is Muslim and lives in Ann Arbor with his wife Sarah Jukaku and two daughters.
Strongest Medicare for All advocate
Only Democratic primary candidate openly supporting single-payer universal healthcare; wrote book on healthcare policy
Voting History: No voting record as current elected official; served on Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force on healthcare in 2020
Abolish ICE
Believes ICE should be completely abolished, not reformed; advocates enforcement at border without paramilitary force
Voting History: No legislative voting record
Strong Palestinian rights advocate; critical of U.S. military involvement
Called Israel's assault on Palestinians genocide in August 2025; opposes U.S. military aid to foreign countries generally; calls Gaza war public health catastrophe
Voting History: No voting record
Against billionaire existence
Unequivocally stated billionaires should not exist; contrasts with McMorrow who said they can exist if they give back
Voting History: No voting record
No corporate PAC money
Only candidate refusing all corporate donations; distinguishes himself as accountable only to working people
Voting History: No voting record
El-Sayed has not held elected federal office and has no congressional voting record. He has served as public health official in Detroit and Wayne County, where he focused on health equity, environmental justice, and addressing medical debt.
El-Sayed's social media presents him as bold progressive willing to challenge Democratic establishment. However, tone has occasionally been defensive when responding to criticism about foreign policy positions and leaked audio.
Shared video discussing healthcare policy and economic concerns
Core campaign messaging on Medicare for All and cost of living
View post →Responded to leaked audio controversy with clarification about campaign strategy
Addressed controversy over comments about Iranian Ayatollah's death
View post →El-Sayed sympathizes with terrorist regimes and aligns with Iranian regime messaging
Rogers cited leaked audio and El-Sayed's refusal to condemn Ayatollah; claimed this disqualifies him
El-Sayed is too far left on healthcare and other issues
Stevens and McMorrow both oppose Medicare for All; Stevens has positioned herself as electability candidate
El-Sayed platforms antisemitic commentators like Hasan Piker
Announced April 7 rally with commentator accused of antisemitism and downplaying October 7