WASHINGTON — For one Michigan Democrat, the “American dream” may be easier to chase north of the border.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, previously floated the idea that Americans seeking greater opportunity might have better odds in Canada, suggesting the path to success is more attainable there than in the United States.
Speaking on a May 2023 episode of his podcast, “America Dissected,” El-Sayed questioned the long-standing national promise that the U.S. remains the world’s premier land of opportunity, citing research on economic mobility that he said favors Canada.
He argued that the familiar message — that anyone with ambition and a small start can build a prosperous life in America — overlooks a harsher reality: many people, he said, do not even begin with the resources needed to climb the ladder.
El-Sayed added that economic data indicates people are “twice as likely” to achieve that dream in Canada, while in the U.S., he said, a person’s starting point too often determines where they ultimately end up.
The US currently has a lower unemployment rate, higher gross domestic product per capita, higher median disposable income, and faster economic growth despite having a much larger population than Canada.
In 2024, America’s median household disposable income was $66,155, compared to Canada’s $36,487, according to data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
El-Sayed recently defended Canada in its trade war with President Trump.
“If you’re starting a trade war with Canada [it] is cause you’re the asshole,” he chided at a press conference this week.
El-Sayed’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.