U.S. Congresswoman Lateefah Simon Endorses Dr. Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate

MICHIGAN –  Today, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon announced her endorsement of Dr. Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. A nationally recognized civil rights advocate, Congresswoman Simon is the first Muslim-American representative from the state of California and the first legally blind member of Congress. In 2016, she was elected to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors, motivated by her experiences as a transit-dependent person to make public transit more accessible and affordable. She has gotten straight to work in the House, serving as a Vice Chair of both the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Equality Caucus, as well as delivering back over $700 million in federal funding for her district. She was elected to California’s 12th Congressional district in 2024, serving the cities of Oakland, Berkeley, and the surrounding East Bay. 

“The future of our party belongs to leaders who organize alongside everyday people and are committed to improving the material conditions of our lives,” said Congresswoman Simon.“That’s exactly the kind of leader Abdul El-Sayed always has been and will be for Michigan. As a doctor and public health leader, he’s fought for working people and shown what government can accomplish when it puts people first. At a time when too many politicians answer to outside interests or the status quo, Abdul is building a campaign that answers to the people. I’m proud to support him because I know he’ll bring that same courage and conviction to the United States Senate.”

“Congresswoman Lateefah Simon has spent her career uplifting working people and advocating for those left behind by our system,” said Abdul. “She has been a relentless fighter for civil rights, accessible transportation, and policies that benefit every American. She understands that real change comes from ordinary people standing together, and I’m deeply honored and humbled to have her support as we build that same kind of movement in Michigan.” 

Congresswoman Simon joins a long list of federal office holders backing Abdul. Abdul has received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Summer Lee (PA-12), Delia Ramirez (IL-3), Analilia Meija (NJ-11), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Ilhan Omar (MI-05), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, the Hon. David Bonior and the Hon. Andy Levin. Beyond members of Congress, Abdul has earned support from over 200 elected officials, advocacy groups, and labor unions, including the UAW, Indivisible, the Working Families Party, National Nurses United, and more. 

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