All members of the progressive House bloc known as the "Squad" have endorsed Abdul El‑Sayed in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, tying him publicly to the party's left flank. Several endorsers have past ties to the Democratic Socialists of America, though El‑Sayed has denied he is a socialist. The unified backing raises the ideological stakes of the primary and gives Republicans potential lines of attack if El‑Sayed wins the nomination; recent polling cited by The New York Times showed El‑Sayed leading centrist Rep. Haley Stevens.
Entire 'Squad' Endorses Abdul El‑Sayed — Raises Stakes In Michigan Democratic Senate Primary
Every member of the "Squad," an informal left-wing congressional caucus, has endorsed Abdul El-Sayed ahead of Michigan's Democratic Senate primary.
All members of the informal progressive House caucus known as the "Squad" have publicly endorsed Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed, the campaign says. The endorsements come days before the state's Democratic primary and are likely to sharpen the ideological contrast between El‑Sayed and his centrist rival, Rep. Haley Stevens.
Who Backed El‑Sayed
The group of lawmakers endorsing El‑Sayed includes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez (D‑N.Y.), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D‑Minn.), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D‑Mass.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D‑Mich.), Rep. Summer Lee (D‑Pa.), Rep. Delia Ramirez (D‑Ill.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D‑Tex.). Casar was the most recent to announce his support, praising El‑Sayed as "a bold, pro‑working class" candidate and citing priorities such as campaign finance reform and Medicare for All.
Reactions And Political Implications
Republican strategists have already seized on the endorsements. Samantha Cantrell, regional press secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told Fox News Digital that "the entire Squad has now endorsed Abdul El‑Sayed" and suggested Michiganders would reject him at the ballot box. Support from prominent progressives gives Democrats to the left a clear rallying point, but it also provides Republicans with ready political messaging if El‑Sayed advances to the general election.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Sen. Bernie Sanders join hands following a campaign rally on July 18, 2026, in Detroit.
DSA Ties And El‑Sayed's Positioning
Several current and former Squad members have ties to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). El‑Sayed has a documented history of participating in DSA‑affiliated events: Fox News Digital reported he attended and spoke at six DSA events between 2017 and 2020 and once headlined a fundraiser that reportedly raised about $10,000 for Detroit DSA. Photographs from that period show him alongside Rep. Tlaib at a table with a DSA‑themed poster.
Despite those associations, El‑Sayed has repeatedly said he does not identify as a socialist. In early July he told The Wall Street Journal, "I'm not technically or practically DSA," and in an interview with CNN he said, "I am not somebody who is a socialist. I believe in capitalism, I just believe that capitalism has to be regulated."
What To Watch
The endorsements increase the primary's national visibility and may influence undecided progressive voters. Polling reported by The New York Times showed El‑Sayed leading Rep. Haley Stevens heading into the primary. The outcome will determine whether Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee enters the general election framed by an energetic progressive coalition or by a more centrist Democratic message.
Note: The El‑Sayed campaign did not respond to a request for comment at the time of reporting.
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