Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, has stated he is awaiting outstanding paperwork to finalize his tax disclosure forms, a delay that extends beyond the state's August 4 primary election.
El-Sayed's campaign has attributed the holdup to the complexity of tax forms, particularly those related to his wife's family and property holdings abroad. He mentioned that obtaining all necessary tax forms for foreign assets is a time-consuming process. "Taxes get complicated," El-Sayed said in a recent interview, adding, "My wife and her family own property abroad and getting all those tax forms is a thing."
This explanation has drawn criticism from his opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Michigan, who has released her own tax returns. Stevens argues that El-Sayed's decision to seek an extension until August 13, after the primary, raises questions about his commitment to transparency. "You’ve sought an extension through August 13, I believe, which is after the primary," El-Sayed was asked during a Wednesday interview. "Was this to avoid transparency with your voters? Why not release them before the election?"
Stevens, who has stated she is not a millionaire, contends that El-Sayed's financial situation, when combined with his wife's assets, potentially places him in that category. El-Sayed acknowledged this possibility, noting, "If you take my assets and my wife’s assets together, then I guess they add up to something like that."
Despite the controversy, El-Sayed has pledged to release his tax documents before the primary election. "We absolutely will. Sometimes finances are complicated. I can only control what I can control, and unfortunately, when it comes to tax documents, sometimes they are really complicated to get," he stated. "We are absolutely going to release it before the primary."
El-Sayed's financial disclosures filed in June 2025 did list various holdings, including a salary from Wayne County totaling $278,900. His net worth was estimated to be between $580,000 and $1.7 million. The disclosures also noted his wife's rental property in Bangalore, India, valued between $100,001 and $250,000, and another rental property in Ann Arbor, Michigan, valued between $250,001 and $500,000. The income from these properties was reported to be between $5,001 and $15,000 each.
Critics, including conservative commentators and some online observers, have likened El-Sayed's approach to tactics used by former President Donald Trump and have questioned his allegiance to the United States, given the mention of foreign assets. Some have also referenced his progressive endorsements, including those from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, suggesting a disconnect with his explanations.