Abdul El-Sayed Addresses 'Unpaid Debts' to Black Communities in Senate Campaign

<p>Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed stated on September 14, 2026, that the country must confront what he termed "unpaid debts" owed to Black communities, emphasizing that leaders have a responsibility to "understand" and "address" these issues. El-Sayed made these comments during a meeting with women faith leaders hosted by the Woman Difference Collaborative in Detroit, as reported by C-SPAN.</p><p>"When it comes to Black communities in Michigan — when it comes to Black communities in America — there are unpaid debts that have long since come due that we are unwilling to acknowledge, let alone pay down," El-Sayed said. He added that it is essential for leaders to recognize and address these debts.</p><p>El-Sayed's remarks were in response to a question about how he plans to energize Democratic voters who did not support him in the primary. He indicated that his strategy involves continuous engagement with voters and highlighting his record.</p><p>"But the question for me is, within my power have I done my best?" El-Sayed stated. "And I will challenge people to look at my history and say, ‘Yeah, that man hasn’t done everything he could around the problems he says he cares about.'"</p><p>During his response, El-Sayed highlighted his work on issues such as infant and maternal mortality, asthma, and lead exposure. He also advocated for expanding access to capital for small businesses and increasing investment in housing and schools.</p><p>El-Sayed, who previously served as the Wayne County health director, ran unsuccessfully for Michigan governor in 2018 before initiating his Senate campaign.</p><p>The event in Detroit also included discussions on El-Sayed's public health record, U.S. aid to Israel, his endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, campaign attack ads from his opponent Mike Rogers, and criminal justice issues, according to C-SPAN.</p><p>El-Sayed's campaign could not be reached for immediate comment.</p>