Obama backs El-Sayed in Detroit as Senate race narrows to a 2-point lead

Barack Obama addressed thousands of voters in Detroit on Saturday, standing beside Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for the Michigan Senate. The rally took place at Cass Technical High School on the first day of early voting, with the general election set for November 3.

The appearance marked the former president's first public endorsement of El-Sayed. During the August primary, Obama remained on the sidelines while El-Sayed defeated Haley Stevens, a moderate congresswoman backed by the party establishment. Obama now describes the doctor and former Wayne County health official as someone who will finish the work started with the Affordable Care Act.

Obama targeted Donald Trump directly, accusing the president of enriching his family and creating a culture of taking favors. He criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for focusing on the physical appearance of troops. On trade, Obama joked that Trump is toughest on the 'well-known evil empire,' referring to Canada, which he said gave the United States Martin Short and maple syrup.

Polling data shows the race is tight. A Marist poll of likely voters conducted in mid-October placed El-Sayed at 50% and his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, at 48%. RealClearPolitics' average shows El-Sayed ahead by approximately 2.6 points. However, El-Sayed faces a steeper climb in Wayne County, where Detroit is located, after Stevens won that district by a margin of 51% to 45% in the primary.

The Cook Political Report rates the contest a toss-up. Republicans have not held a Michigan Senate seat in 25 years, but they view this race as a top opportunity for a pickup. Rogers, a former congressman endorsed by Trump, lost a 2024 Senate race to Elissa Slotkin by less than half a percentage point.

Slotkin, a featured speaker at the rally, said Michigan believes in electing fighters. She noted that while she may disagree with El-Sayed on some points, they agree on more, adding that they are putting a check on Donald Trump in the White House.

Obama acknowledged past differences between the two men, noting that El-Sayed did not like every decision he made as president. El-Sayed, a champion of Medicare for All, once described the Affordable Care Act as an incremental fix. The two have since spoken by phone, and El-Sayed has described Obama as a mentor figure.

Trump is scheduled to visit Michigan on Sunday for a rally in Port Huron, the first presidential visit to St. Clair County. He has previously attacked El-Sayed, calling him a 'jihadist' and alleging ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which El-Sayed denies. If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the US Senate.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee for governor, also spoke at the rally. She faces Republican congressman John James, who would become Michigan's first Black governor if he wins. Obama closed by stating that they share values of ensuring everyone gets a fair shot in society and that the system is not run only for those at the top.