Michigan Roots & Education
- Grew Up in Michigan: He was raised in the Metro Detroit area (Rochester Hills and Bloomfield Hills).
- University of Michigan (Undergrad): He attended the University of Michigan for his undergraduate degree, majoring in biology and political science. He graduated in 2007, played on the men’s club lacrosse team, and was selected as the student commencement speaker for his graduating class.
- U of M Medical School Scholarship: He was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to the University of Michigan Medical School.
- Rhodes Scholar & M.D.: During medical school at U of M, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study public health at the University of Oxford. He later completed his M.D. at Columbia University.
Public Career in Michigan
- Served as the Executive Director of the Detroit Health Department (becoming the youngest health director in a major U.S. city).
- Ran in the 2018 Michigan Democratic gubernatorial primary.
- Served as the Director of Health, Human, and Veterans Services for Wayne County.
Early Career & Executive Public Health Roles
- Executive Director of the Detroit Health Department (2015–2017): Appointed at age 30 by Mayor Mike Duggan, El-Sayed became the youngest health director of a major U.S. city. He was tasked with rebuilding the department following Detroit’s municipal bankruptcy, focusing on lead screening in schools, providing free eyeglasses for students, expanding access to Narcan, and taking on environmental polluters.
- Wayne County Health Director (2023–2025): He served as the Director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services for Michigan’s most populous county before stepping down to run for higher office.
Major Political Campaigns
- 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial Campaign:
- Marked his entry into electoral politics running as a progressive Democrat.Endorsed by high-profile progressive leaders such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.Finished second in the Democratic primary to Gretchen Whitmer.
- 2026 U.S. Senate Campaign in Michigan:
- Democratic Primary Victory: Won a high-profile, competitive Democratic primary for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, defeating establishment candidate Rep. Haley Stevens in a closely watched race.
- Upcoming General Election: Set to face Republican nominee Mike Rogers in the November 2026 general election.
- Healthcare Reform: A major advocate and policy architect for a universal, single-payer system (Medicare for All), having co-written Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.
- Campaign & Policy Pillars: Centers his platforms around getting corporate money out of politics, lowering working-class costs, supporting labor unions, and reforming tax systems to target high earners and billionaires.
- Foreign & Immigration Policy: Advocates for an arms embargo on Israel, reforming or abolishing ICE, and pursuing broader structural political reforms, such as ending the Senate filibuster.