Every member of the "Squad," an informal left-wing congressional caucus, has endorsed Abdul El-Sayed ahead of Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, according to his campaign website. The Squad members include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), and Greg Casar (D-Texas).

Many current and former Squad members have affiliations with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), an organization El-Sayed is attempting to distance himself from as he moderates his image ahead of the general election in this swing state. Fox News Digital previously reported that El-Sayed attended and spoke at six DSA events between 2017 and 2020. He also headlined a fundraiser that raised roughly $10,000 for the Detroit Democratic Socialists of America and was photographed alongside Tlaib at the event.

The unified endorsements raise the ideological stakes of the August 4th, 2026 primary, linking El-Sayed to the party’s most prominent progressive bloc even as he rejects the socialist label and seeks to present himself as a viable candidate in a battleground state. Polls generally show El-Sayed leading his more centrist opponent, Stevens, by a comfortable margin, according to the New York Times.

Greg Casar praised El-Sayed, stating, "Abdul El-Sayed is showing what it means to run a bold, pro-working class campaign." Members of the Squad have emphasized the need for strong progressive partners in the Senate to advance policies such as Medicare for All. One member said, "House progressives need strong partners in the Senate in order to put money in your pocket, get money out of politics, and win Medicare for All. I’m proud to endorse Abdul."

However, critics argue that the Squad's endorsement aligns El-Sayed with a radical agenda. A statement claimed, "The entire Squad has now endorsed Abdul El-Sayed to carry on its radical, socialist, anti-American agenda in the U.S. Senate, and they will be rejected by Michiganders at the ballot box."

The endorsements also provide Republicans with an early line of attack should El-Sayed defeat Stevens and advance to the general election.

Sources