Caption: Michigan Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed speaking at The People V. The Powerful rally at the Detroit Opera House on July 18, 2026. Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images. For the full interview video, see this YouTube recording.
Overview
Michigan’s 2026 Senate primary on August 4 has become a central battleground. Progressive candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and establishment-backed Haley Stephens are competing for the Democratic nomination ahead of the general election. In an unedited conversation recorded in Saginaw, El-Sayed discusses his campaign priorities, his evolution since the 2018 gubernatorial campaign, and his approach to confronting corporate influence and the resurgence of Trump-aligned politics.
Credits
- Interviewer / Videography: Maximillian Alvarez
- Post-Production: David Hebden
- Original publication: The Real News Network (TRNN)
Transcript (rushed, unedited)
Note: This transcript was produced quickly and may contain minor errors. It will be updated when finalized.
Maximillian Alvarez: I’m here at the Mexican American Council Building in Saginaw, Michigan, with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for the U.S. Senate. Thanks for joining me.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: An honor.
Maximillian Alvarez: We first met during your 2018 run for governor. How is this campaign different from that one?
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: There are two differences: the national context and personal growth. Nationally, many Americans now recognize that addressing surface symptoms of political dysfunction is not enough — the underlying system that lets corporations and billionaires shape policy must be confronted. As a physician I think about disease versus symptom: treating the symptom alone allows the problem to return worse than before.
Personally, I’m older and have different responsibilities. I was 32 in 2018; now I’m 41 with two kids and a mortgage. Parenthood changes your perspective — it strengthens your ability to sit with pain, to listen, and to prioritize long-term outcomes over immediate victories.
Maximillian Alvarez: How did your service in Wayne County prepare you for this race?
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: Running the Wayne County health department involved managing a complex bureaucracy — about 550 staff and a $172 million budget — across federally, state- and county-funded programs. That work taught me how to combine technical expertise, practical implementation and political strategy. It also deepened my relationships across Michigan’s most diverse county, giving me experience building coalitions and understanding how policy affects everyday people.
We need policymakers in Washington who understand these operational and technical realities — from public health infrastructure to emerging issues like AI — and who can translate policy into outcomes for residents in places like Downriver, Dearborn, and Detroit.
Maximillian Alvarez: Many voters now distrust the Democratic Party. Why run as a Democrat, and how will you rebuild trust?
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: I’m a Democrat with a small “d.” The party needs to stop taking money from the same interests that created these problems. I don’t accept corporate PAC money, and I believe voters can tell when a candidate is independent. Democrats must offer a clear, persuasive narrative — not a set of 10-point policy lists — that explains how corporate power has hurt working families and what concrete steps will change that.
Rebuilding trust requires both persuasion and structural change. We must articulate a vision that resonates with people’s real experiences and then follow through with action that improves lives.
Maximillian Alvarez: Why visit places like Saginaw, and what can politicians do for communities in the Rust Belt?
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: You come and stay engaged. You listen, tell the truth about what’s possible, and work to build institutions and coalitions that can deliver over time. Saginaw is resilient with deep cultural roots, but it also faces economic decline and blight. Solutions won’t come overnight — but honest listening, clear diagnoses, and sustained advocacy can rebuild communities.
Maximillian Alvarez: For people who feel vulnerable — concerned about immigration enforcement, surveillance, unemployment —how do you answer their fear and mobilize courage?
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: Fear is often anxiety about future pain. I try to think through the worst-case scenarios, accept the uncomfortable possibilities, and then weigh what matters most. Courage is the willingness to accept possible loss to protect others. Practically, that means organizing, making sacrifices when needed, and exercising moral clarity. For many, spiritual or personal reflection can help sustain the work. Ultimately, powerful people often retreat first; we must not fold in the face of threats. We need to stand firm and fight for democratic institutions and basic protections.
Maximillian Alvarez: Any final thoughts?
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: I run because of the opportunities I’ve had and the people who were denied them. I owe what I have to others and to my grandmother’s example. If our work can expand opportunity for other kids and remove the stigma or “asterisk” some Americans feel about belonging here, it’s worth everything. I measure my work by whether it would make her proud.
Related Links
- TRNN (The Real News Network) — original interview coverage
- Dr. Abdul El-Sayed — campaign site (external)
- Michigan Elections — official primary and election information (external)
- Jump to transcript (internal)
- Watch the full interview on YouTube (external)
For more on Michigan politics and related reporting, visit the TRNN homepage: https://therealnews.com.
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