Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Michigan who is backed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders and other progressive figures, has come under fire for declining to release his tax returns before the state's Democratic primary on 4 August. His rival, Representative Haley Stevens, has accused him of trying to conceal his true wealth by seeking a filing extension until 13 August, after the vote. During a debate, El-Sayed denied any attempt to avoid transparency, saying his taxes were complicated because his wife and her family own property abroad and gathering the necessary forms takes time.

Critics argued the explanation was odd given that El-Sayed had already filed a candidate financial disclosure in June 2025 detailing those overseas assets. That filing listed a Wayne County salary of $278,900 and an overall net worth of between $580,000 and $1.7 million, along with his wife's rental property in Bangalore, India (valued at $100,001–$250,000) and a rental property in Ann Arbor, Michigan (valued at $250,001–$500,000), each generating between $5,001 and $15,000 in income. Washington Free Beacon reporter Chuck Ross called the response "bizarre", noting that the foreign holdings had already been publicly disclosed the previous year.