El-Sayed pushed for repeal of HIV disclosure law in 2018

"You should not be criminalized for a disease. That is absolutely wrong," he said during his governor campaign

Published: September 26, 2026 6:49pm

Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed advocated for repealing a Michigan law that made it a felony for someone who knows they have HIV from engaging in sexual intercourse without disclosing their diagnosis to their partner.

The law is reportedly still on the books and it carries a prison sentence of up to four years.

"You should not be criminalized for a disease. That is absolutely wrong. It’s hateful. It’s discriminatory, and we can, as a state, do better. You can count on me for that," El-Sayed said as he ran for governor in 2018, Fox News reported.