Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has endorsed Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in the state’s Democratic primary, adding her support to a growing list of progressive lawmakers backing his campaign to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich, as reported by Breitbart.
Warren announced her endorsement on July 20, describing El-Sayed as the candidate best positioned to build a grassroots campaign centered on healthcare reform, campaign finance changes, and organized labor.
El-Sayed has also received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and the United Auto Workers.
In a statement announcing her endorsement, Warren praised El-Sayed’s campaign platform and fundraising approach.
“Abdul is the only candidate in this race not taking corporate money, and he’s fighting to get money out of politics altogether. Abdul studied to be a doctor, and he’s fighting for every single American to have affordable, high-quality healthcare,” Warren said.
She continued, “Abdul has been a card-carrying union member, and he’s fighting for working people. That’s why he’s endorsed by the United Auto Workers, and he’s growing a movement of working people all across Michigan. And that’s why I’m endorsing Abdul. He is the fighter Michigan needs in the Senate.”
Warren also described El-Sayed as the “only candidate in this race who can build the grassroots movement needed to win in November for money in your pocket to get money out of politics and deliver Medicare for all.”
Healthcare remains one of the central issues in El-Sayed’s campaign. The former physician supports a Medicare for All system that would replace private health insurance with a government-run program.
His proposal calls for healthcare coverage without premiums, copays, deductibles, provider networks, or other out-of-pocket expenses.
During an appearance on Intellectually Petty Radio, El-Sayed explained his vision for universal healthcare.
“I think you need to guarantee health care for everyone, cradle to grave, without premium, copay, deductible. Medicare for all. And I just want you to imagine, right, that that card that you get in your — via your private health insurer — that card sits in your back pocket. You pay a ton of money for it, and it goes away if you lose your job. Now, imagine you had one right there, but you got the day you were born that doesn’t expire until you expire, God willing, after a long, healthy life at 120 years old in your sleep. You don’t lose it if you turn 26. You don’t lose it if you turn 65. You don’t lose it if you get married, get divorced. Doesn’t matter. It’s there for you. There’s no network, and there’s no cost out of pocket. That’s the security people need and deserve.”
In addition to healthcare reform, El-Sayed’s campaign platform supports continued access to reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming care.
His campaign website states, “Everyone has the right to make personal decisions about their healthcare. Healthcare decisions should be made by a patient (and their parents if they are a minor) and their doctor — no one else.”
The platform continues, “That includes reproductive and gender-affirming care.”
Ocasio-Cortez has also publicly supported El-Sayed’s campaign, saying he “represents the politics of the future.”
The Michigan Senate race is expected to be closely watched nationally as Democrats seek to retain the seat being vacated by Peters.
Several progressive organizations have lined up behind El-Sayed as the primary campaign continues.
Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters criticized the Democratic field during an appearance on Breitbart News Daily earlier this month.
“Here’s the deal, even if it’s not El-Sayed, the left is so far to the left, it doesn’t matter what the candidate is anymore,” Gruters said.
He added, “El-Sayed has more things that he said in the past, but both candidates are disasters. Both would be terrible for the president and working to push his agenda forward. And so, yes, I don’t care who the nominee is.”
The Democratic primary will determine who advances to the general election to compete for the Senate seat currently held by Peters.
