Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has repeatedly described himself as a "physician" on the campaign trail and in public biographies, despite records showing he has never held a medical license in Michigan or New York. The disclosure has raised questions about how central his medical credentials have been to his candidacy in the competitive race for Michigan's open Senate seat.

El-Sayed does hold a medical degree from an accredited institution and earned a PhD in public health from the University of Oxford, according to his biographies. However, public records examined by Politico indicate no active or past medical license in either state where he has lived and worked professionally. New York state law prohibits individuals who lack medical licenses from identifying themselves as "physicians," a title El-Sayed claimed on at least two occasions while campaigning in the state.

What the Right Is Saying

Critics from within the Democratic primary have seized on the revelations as a question of fundamental trustworthiness. The campaign of State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who is competing against El-Sayed for the Democratic nomination, released a pointed statement questioning his honesty.

"Abdul El-Sayed has made his supposed medical credentials a centerpiece of his campaign, but the truth is he never held a medical license, never did his residency, never passed his boards, and never practiced medicine independently," campaign spokesperson Jackson Boaz told Fox News Digital. "If Michigan voters can't trust El-Sayed to be honest about something that is so central to his entire rationale for running, how can they trust him to be honest about what he'd do as a United States Senator?"

Michigan Democratic strategist Chris Dewitt offered an assessment from outside either campaign. "The perception in Michigan is that he is, at least at one point in his life, a licensed physician," Dewitt told Politico. "That apparently is not the case, and it blows up a big part of his campaign."

Republican groups have also highlighted the discrepancy as evidence of misleading campaign messaging, though the primary contest remains a Democratic internal matter.

What the Left Is Saying

El-Sayed's campaign has defended his use of the physician designation, framing it within the context of his career trajectory rather than an assertion of active practice. "Rather than this being a gotcha attack, this is Dr. El-Sayed's origin story — one that Michiganders are familiar with," spokesperson Roxie Richner told Fox News Digital.

Richner emphasized El-Sayed's public health accomplishments, including eliminating up to $700 million in medical debt for Michigan residents, expanding access to Narcan, and building a statewide air quality monitoring network. "He has spent his career improving healthcare for Michiganders through innovative, sweeping public health programs," she said.

El-Sayed himself addressed the scrutiny in 2018 when Crain's Detroit Business first raised questions about his medical credentials. "I think there are a lot of ways that one serves as a physician. And I think the work that I have done and I continue to do is true to the core and the ethos of medicine," he told the publication at the time. "I'm a physician because I have an MD, but I'm also a physician because of the work that I've dedicated my career to."

Some Democratic strategists acknowledged the scrutiny while noting El-Sayed's broader record in public health remains significant. El-Sayed has argued he chose politics over medicine because he believes poverty is at the root of many health problems affecting communities.

What the Numbers Show

The core factual dispute centers on licensing records. According to Politico's review of public records in both Michigan and New York, no medical license for El-Sayed exists in either state's database. Under Michigan law, individuals can be barred from working "to induce the belief" that they are licensed to practice medicine without holding such a license.

El-Sayed's hands-on clinical experience was limited to a four-week rotation completed after finishing medical school. In a 2022 podcast appearance reported by Politico, El-Sayed himself described that experience using language that has since drawn additional scrutiny: "cosplaying [as] a doctor," in his words at the time.

On social media platforms including LinkedIn as of Thursday, El-Sayed continues to describe himself as a "physician and epidemiologist." His campaign appearances include instances where he referred to himself with the physician designation, including during an April debate hosted by the Council of Baptist Pastors. When Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., described him as a "physician" during a 2025 campaign appearance, El-Sayed did not correct the senator.

The Bottom Line

The controversy arrives at a critical juncture in Michigan's Senate race, where El-Sayed is seeking the Democratic nomination in a contest that will determine who faces likely Republican opposition in the general election. His medical credentials have been a recurring subject of scrutiny dating back to his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, suggesting this represents an ongoing vulnerability rather than a new development.

For voters, the core question may center on whether the distinction between holding a medical degree and practicing medicine matters when evaluating a candidate whose career has shifted toward public health administration and elected office. For opponents, the issue frames questions about transparency in a race where trust will be central to Democratic chances of winning the seat.

El-Sayed's campaign has signaled no intention to alter his biographical framing despite the continued scrutiny. The primary election date and voter response to these revelations will determine whether the physician pitch remains viable or becomes a liability heading into the general election contest for Michigan's open Senate seat.