Abdul El-Sayed nets U.S. Senate endorsement from national, statewide Indivisible branches

Indivisible, a national grassroots political operation that helps empower local groups to defend democratic principles, is throwing its might behind Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

Indivisible announced its nod for El-Sayed on Tuesday morning. A news release states that “an overwhelming supermajority” of its membership voted to support El-Sayed, a move that came just after Democratic U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer endorsed U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in the same race.

Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, said El-Sayed was “the leader this moment demands.”

“As a physician, public health leader, and lifelong Michigander, Abdul has dedicated his career to improving working people’s lives — from eliminating millions of dollars in medical debt for families to taking on polluters to remove lead pipes that harm children from elementary schools,” Levin said. “He understands that the government should work for ordinary people, not corporations, billionaires, or well-connected political insiders.”

Levin went on to say that El-Sayed’s top competitor, Stevens, has accepted campaign contributions from the private equity firms and energy companies driving up costs for Michigan families “and built her campaign on support from AIPAC and the Democratic establishment.”

“If you like Chuck Schumer and the status quo, Stevens is your candidate,” Levin said. “As Michiganders see rising costs of living and health care, threats of data centers being built in their communities, and growing corporate influence over our politics, Abdul is offering something too rare in Washington: a willingness to fight.”

El-Sayed was also recently endorsed by State Wide Indivisible Michigan and four local Indivisible groups; Saline Indivisible, Eastern Upper Peninsula Solidarity, Indivisible Courage Together and Downriver United 734. Together, those groups formally endorsed El-Sayed and recommended him to Indivisible for the national endorsement, the national branch said Tuesday.

Naomi Ernest, group leader of Saline Indivisible, said the group’s mission is to protect, defend, and promote democracy. She says Indivisible sees in El-Sayed’s campaign a hedge against new and pressing affronts to those ideals.

“From the beginning, Abdul’s values have been clear and consistent; he has always refused corporate donations and has made Money Out of Politics a centerpiece of his campaign. We believe Abdul stands above other candidates on this core issue,” said Ernest. “We know he will continue to work to improve democracy, so our voices are heard, and so government works better for all of us. ”

Aside from El-Sayed and Stevens, the race also includes state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak. The winner of the Democratic August 4 primary will go on to face Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake, who is the sole Republican in the race.