Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has a long history of attending events hosted by a prominent progressive organization, despite his insistence that he is not a socialist. Between 2017 and 2020, El-Sayed attended and spoke at six events held by the organization, including a 2019 fundraiser where he headlined.
Despite his longstanding relationship with the organization, El-Sayed has distanced himself from it when interviewed by the press and outright rejected being labeled as a "socialist." He told one publication that "I'm not technically or practically" affiliated with the organization, and stated in another interview that "I am not somebody who is a socialist. I believe in capitalism, I just believe that capitalism has to be regulated."
The organization, however, has made it clear that the two were close. At the 2019 event, which raised $10,000 for the organization, El-Sayed was described by organizers as "a longtime friend of Detroit" and was photographed smiling next to a self-described socialist, behind a table with a poster depicting a hand labeled "the organization" choking a snake labeled "capitalism."
El-Sayed's relationship with the organization began during his run for Michigan governor in 2017. He has since spoken at various events focused on progressive policies, including Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Some have speculated that his efforts to distance himself from the organization are part of a strategy to appeal to Michigan's relatively evenly split electorate.
El-Sayed faces a moderate opponent in the state's Democratic Senate primary, and some have questioned his claims of not being a socialist. Self-described socialists have also thrown their support behind El-Sayed, with one prominent senator endorsing him on the day he launched his campaign.
El-Sayed has explained that while he agrees with many of the policies put forward by progressive politicians, he remains a capitalist at heart. He believes that big corporations should be regulated and that everybody in the country should have guaranteed health insurance. He has also stated that he wants government to work for people, rather than just a select few.
El-Sayed's campaign has been the subject of scrutiny, with some questioning his claims of not being a socialist. Recently released tax returns show that he and his wife collectively earned $686,069 in 2025, and he also has an expansive collection of luxury watches. When reached for comment, his campaign did not respond.
