El-Sayed says leaders must address ‘unpaid debts’ to Black communities

Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed said Saturday that the country must confront what he described as “unpaid debts” owed to Black communities, arguing that leaders have a responsibility to “understand” and “address” them.

El-Sayed — who is facing Republican nominee and former Rep. Mike Rogers in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races — made the remarks while speaking at a meeting with women faith leaders hosted by the Woman Difference Collaborative in Detroit, according to a video shared by C-SPAN.

“When it comes to black communities in Michigan — when it comes to black communities in America — there are unpaid debts that have long since come due that we are unwilling to acknowledge, let alone pay down,” El-Sayed said. “And I understand that we need leaders who are going to understand those debts and address them.”

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El-Sayed made the remarks while responding to a question about how he plans to energize Democratic voters who did not support him in the primary.

He said his approach is to keep showing up, engaging with voters and emphasizing his record.

“But the question for me is, within my power have I done my best?” El-Sayed said. “And I will challenge people to look at my history and say, ‘Yeah, that man hasn’t done everything he could around the problems he says he cares about.'”

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During his response, El-Sayed highlighted his work on infant and maternal mortality, asthma and lead exposure.

He also called for expanding access to capital for small businesses and increasing investment in housing and schools.

El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, unsuccessfully ran for Michigan governor in 2018 before launching his Senate campaign.

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The Detroit event also featured discussion of El-Sayed’s public health record, U.S. aid to Israel, his endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, campaign attack ads from Rogers and criminal justice issues, according to C-SPAN.

El-Sayed’s campaign could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.