ICYMI: Senator Bernie Sanders and MI Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Host Healthcare Town Hall 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Senator Bernie Sanders were joined by over 20,000 Americans tuning in to discuss the future of our healthcare system, at a time when Republicans are gutting Medicaid, doubling insurance premiums for more than 20 million Americans, and pushing millions to the brink of losing the care they need. 

“Americans are sick and tired of being left to deal with the consequences of our broken healthcare system,” said Abdul. “We can and must provide a vision for a system that will work for all of us, not for the insurance companies or Big Pharma. I’m so honored to have this conversation alongside such a force in the Medicare for All movement, Senator Sanders. While Republicans try to push millions of Michiganders off their insurance plans, I want folks to know it’s possible for us to have the care we deserve and need. I look forward to working alongside him and other champions in the Senate to make Medicare for All a reality and finally alleviate the pain our system causes.” 

Sanders and Abdul have long partnered in the fight to guarantee healthcare as a human right. Sanders endorsed Abdul on the first day of his campaign, marking the senator’s earliest endorsement ahead of the 2026 midterms. The senator visited Kalamazoo, MI in late August to stump for Abdul, rallying Michiganders around their shared agenda: taking on corporate power, putting working people first, and finally passing Medicare for All to guarantee healthcare coverage for every American. 

A new poll from Data for Progress shows a majority, 63% of voters, 78% of Dems and even 49% of Republicans support a Medicare for All system. This support remained strong even when respondents were presented with arguments from both sides. Supporters argued that the policy would ensure everyone can receive the care they need and save families money, and opponents argued that it would raise taxes and give the government too much control over health care.

Abdul will continue to host town halls to engage Michiganders and Americans to provide spaces for open conversation on the effects of our broken healthcare system. As a two-time public health official, Abdul has worked to open the system for those who have been locked out, from jumpstarting a program to eliminate $700 million in medical debt to providing tens of thousands of kids free pairs of glasses. He’s proven that the government can deliver – but only when leaders sit down in community with Michiganders and listen.

Click here for a recording of the event.

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