Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, recently addressed his position on capitalism. This comes as past social media activity from the Detroit Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) suggests a different narrative.
Some old posts show the Detroit DSA praising El-Sayed for his climate advocacy, even calling him a ‘comrade.’ A particular 2019 post welcomed him with, ‘Welcome to the team comrade,’ after he had run for Michigan governor. Additionally, after El-Sayed endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders during his presidential campaign, the group showed their appreciation.
Despite this, the DSA has not formally endorsed El-Sayed’s current Senate bid. However, local support may hint at alignment between his campaign and DSA’s views. El-Sayed shared his thoughts on capitalism in a New York Times interview. He emphasized the importance of regulations and criticized current market conditions, stating, “Capitalism works when there is free entry and exit into markets. We currently lack that.” He argued that taxing billionaires aligns with capitalist principles, adding, “I am a capitalist who reads a lot. Apologies for that.”
El-Sayed advocates for policies like Medicare for All and taxing wealthier citizens. He also supports stricter regulations on businesses affecting natural resources. During his 2018 governor campaign, he received support from the DSA, notably for his climate policy.
El-Sayed proposed transforming General Motors’ plants for public benefit after job cuts by the company. His proposal was part of a larger initiative co-signed by others, including Rep. Rashida Tlaib. A DSA resolution argued the plants belonged to workers and taxpayers who had supported GM with subsidies and bailouts.
Between 2017 and 2020, El-Sayed participated in several DSA events, including a 2019 fundraiser as a keynote speaker. Despite the relationship, El-Sayed told the Wall Street Journal, “I’m not technically or practically DSA.” However, Detroit DSA described him as a ‘longtime friend.’
The DSA national platform outlines goals like public control of large corporations and defunding the Department of Defense, which are not part of El-Sayed’s current policies. His campaign has not commented on whether past support from the DSA conflicts with his capitalist identification.
El-Sayed, having won the Democratic primary, will compete against Republican nominee Mike Rogers on November 3.
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