Why Is Abdul El-Sayed's Senate Race So Heated? We Asked Him

Emily and I sat down with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, for a conversation about what real people actually need from their leadership, how to heal our fractured country, and why corporate interests are throwing millions into his defeat. Abdul is a Michigan-born doctor who, at 30, rebuilt Detroit’s shuttered health department. He guaranteed glasses for kids, took on corporate polluters, and tested every school and daycare for lead after the Flint water crisis. He’s been attacked and outspent at every stage of the race. But he hasn’t wavered in his principled stance. With almost $300 million spent against him, Abdul is still running the same way he started: no corporate PAC money, fighting for the people. In this episode we talk about what standing up for your principles really means — and how we can get money out of politics, put money back in people’s pockets, and pass Medicare for All. Abdul shares how rebuilding Detroit’s Health Department shaped how he leads, and why he believes health care should start at birth, with no premiums, no co-pays, no deductibles, and no networks telling you where you can go. We also get into affordability, from groceries and gas to housing, why he’s campaigning in red and blue parts of Michigan alike, and how he’s staying consistent while being outspent 11-to-1 and 3-to-2 by opponents backed by the same big corporations. We asked him the questions we keep hearing from friends and neighbors: Why should anyone trust a politician to deliver? Is “Medicare for All” really radical? How do you reach voters in red counties? And how do you hold on to hope when the campaign gets this ugly? This one is a must-watch video about principles over politics, and people over corporations. Dr. El-Sayed’s win would be an historic victory for representation in America, as he’ll be the first Arab-American Senator! But, as he told us, “People are less interested in how I pray than what I pray for.” We’re glad to see he’s not just praying for the people to get the help they need—he’s doing the work to make it happen. If you’re in Michigan, vote for Abdul on or before November 3. If you’re not, reach out to the people you know in Michigan, or sign up to phone bank with the campaign (link below). And no matter where you are in America: VOTE! Watch the full conversation, then tell us in the comments what you thought of this episode and what kind of future you want to build. Thanks, Misha & Emily Find more interviews and join our community on The AnteSocial, where we dig deeper into these conversations, connect with people who care, and figure out how to make ourselves useful and happy in a world that sometimes feels like it’s falling apart. Subscribe and join us here: https://www.theantesocial.com #AbdulElSayed #Michigan #MichiganSenate #MishaCollins #TheAnteSocial #MedicareForAll #MoneyOutOfPolitics #Midterms #election2026 LINKS: Volunteer with the campaign: https://www.abdulforsenate.com/volunteer CHAPTERS: 00:00 Abdul El-Sayed on the Attacks Against His Campaign 00:49 Why He Keeps Fighting for Michigan 03:39 Why Is Abdul El-Sayed Called Far Left? 05:21 Corporate Money and What's Broken in Politics 07:23 Can We Get Corporate Money Out of Politics? 09:58 Reaching Republican Voters and Bridging Divides 11:51 Rebuilding Detroit's Public Health Department 15:42 Medicare for All and the Future of Healthcare 18:28 Finding Hope in a Divided America 22:08 Israel, Antisemitism, and Jewish Voters 24:59 Leading with Principles 27:09 Final Message to Michigan Voters