UAW Endorses Dr. Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan’s Open U.S. Senate Seat

MICHIGAN – Today, the United Auto Workers announced their support for Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s competitive U.S. Senate race.

The UAW represents 300,000 active and retired Michigan members across a wide array of sectors. Over the past year, Abdul has rallied with laid-off UAW workers at Cleveland Cliffs, marched with UAW Local 600 members, met with workers in communities hollowed out by outsourcing, and traveled the state listening directly to union members about the challenges facing Michigan. This afternoon, Abdul will be joining UAW Local 2093 American Axle workers on the picket line in Three Rivers, MI as they fight for wage increases.

“I am deeply honored and proud to have earned the support of the UAW,” said Abdul. “Michigan union autoworkers built the American middle class and proved that when people stand together, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish. Unlike campaigns powered by corporate PAC money, AIPAC, and Washington insiders, our campaign is built alongside workers and union members. Together, we’re going to take on corporate greed, rebuild an economy that works for working people, strengthen collective bargaining, and ensure that the future of Michigan manufacturing is built right here by union workers. Solidarity forever.” 

At the UAW CAP conference forum in February, Abdul distinguished himself as the only candidate in the race who has never accepted corporate PAC money, and the only candidate supporting Medicare for All. 

Abdul has been a member of AFT Local 477 and 6244, SEIU Local 500, the National Writers Union, and the AAUP. He is the only Democratic primary candidate in the race that has been a card-carrying union member. Abdul’s father immigrated to America to work in the auto industry because Detroit was, and is, the best place to build cars in the world. In January, Abdul released a Labor Policy Agenda, outlining his platform to protect union workers as Michigan’s next U.S. Senator. He has been outspoken about the harm caused by rotten trade deals like NAFTA and the urgent need to ban stock buybacks and pass the PRO Act. 

The UAW’s joins a rapidly growing coalition behind Abdul’s campaign including National Nurses United, the Working Families Party, MoveOn, Common Defense, and Our Revolution. Abdul has also been endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, five members of Congress, and over 150 other local elected officials and organizations. See full list of Abdul’s endorsers here.

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