Abdul El‑Sayed, the Democratic candidate for the Michigan Senate, has released a two‑page excerpt of his 2025 tax return. The document lists a total income of $686,069, a figure that puts him among the state’s top one percent of earners.
Breakdown of the disclosed income
The excerpt records $292,000 labelled as “additional income” and $262,000 in capital gains. No Schedule 1 or Schedule D forms were provided, leaving the precise composition of those amounts unclear.
In an interview with an NBC affiliate, El‑Sayed said the “additional income” stems from his podcast, America Dissected, and from his wife’s psychiatry practice, Mind Work Psychiatry. He also attributed the capital gains to a property owned by his wife’s parents, but offered no further transaction details.
Comparison with state and city averages
According to IRS data, the median household income in Michigan is $68,500. El‑Sayed’s earnings are therefore more than eighteen times that median. In Detroit, where the median is $38,000, his income is roughly forty‑six times higher. The disparity is notable given his campaign’s emphasis on tackling economic inequality.
Income composition versus national patterns
Nationally, about 60 % of personal income comes from wages. El‑Sayed’s return shows only 19 % from wages, while 40 % derives from capital gains – a proportion far above the national average.
Property holdings and previous earnings
The financial disclosure lists two rental properties – one in Ann Arbor and another in India – with a combined value of up to $750,000. The source of the 2025 capital gains remains unexplained. In the 2018 gubernatorial race, El‑Sayed reported $237,000 in income, which is $25,000 less than the capital gains shown for 2025.
Political and personal scrutiny
Democratic rival Haley Stevens and other critics have questioned the timing of the disclosure and the lack of full transparency. El‑Sayed has blamed the delay on the complexity of overseas property holdings.
His personal spending has also attracted attention. Public appearances have shown him wearing a $4,000 Sinn U1 SE watch and a $10,000 Omega Speedmaster Moon Phase Chronograph. The Washington Free Beacon reported that his wife’s psychiatry practice does not accept insurance, requiring patients to pay out‑of‑pocket, a point that appears at odds with El‑Sayed’s public support for “Medicare for All” healthcare.
First reported by the Washington Free Beacon.