Obama Stumps for El-Sayed in Detroit to Close Wayne County Gap

Barack Obama delivered his first public endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit on Saturday, urging a crowd at Cass Technical High School to close a substantial deficit in Wayne County. Speaking on the first day of early voting for the November 3 general election, Obama positioned the former Wayne County health official as the candidate who would continue the work of the Affordable Care Act. He described El-Sayed as someone fighting to remove money from politics and place it directly in voters' pockets.

The rally marked a formal entry into the Michigan Senate race by the former president, who had remained largely silent during the August primary. El-Sayed, a doctor and Medicare for All advocate, defeated Haley Stevens in that contest. Stevens had held the backing of the Democratic establishment and pro-Israel groups. Obama acknowledged their past differences, noting that El-Sayed did not agree with every policy decision he made as president. He referenced Michelle Obama to illustrate that internal party disagreement is normal, stating that they will not agree on every detail of every issue.

Obama directed sharp criticism at Donald Trump and his administration, accusing them of enriching the president's family and establishing a culture of taking favors. He specifically targeted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, mocking the official for focusing on the jawlines and testosterone levels of troops. Obama asked the audience how much time Hegseth spends in front of a mirror. He also poked at the White House renovation projects, including the new ballroom and Rose Garden, joking that Trump should appear on home improvement television because the residence resembles a Cheesecake Factory owned by Saddam Hussein.

The Detroit event was part of a broader midwestern campaign swing. Obama had spent earlier in the day in Cleveland, Ohio, where he campaigned for former senator Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton. In both cities, he delivered similar critiques of the White House and the Republican Party. His focus in Detroit was on the geographic and demographic realities of the race, specifically the need to win back the city and its surrounding county.

The primary results from August created a specific challenge for El-Sayed in Wayne County. Stevens won that county by a margin of approximately 51 percent to 45 percent. Obama identified this gap as the central obstacle to victory. The former president had last campaigned in Detroit in October 2024 for Kamala Harris. Senator Elissa Slotkin, who defeated Mike Rogers in 2024, also spoke at the rally, telling the crowd that Michigan elects fighters and that they agree on more than they disagree.

Current polling shows the race is tight. A Marist poll of likely voters conducted in mid-October placed El-Sayed at 50 percent and his opponent at 48 percent, within the margin of error. RealClearPolitics averages show El-Sayed leading by about 2.6 points. The Cook Political Report rates the contest as a toss-up. Republicans view the race as a strong opportunity to reclaim a Senate seat they have not held in Michigan for 25 years.

El-Sayed faces Mike Rogers, a former congressman endorsed by Trump. Rogers lost his 2024 Senate race to Slotkin by less than half a percentage point. Trump has attacked El-Sayed throughout the campaign, calling him a jihadist based on his middle name and alleging ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a connection El-Sayed denies. The former president is scheduled to hold a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday. This stop in St. Clair County will be his first visit to the area since taking office.

If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the U.S. Senate. The race also features a contest for governor, where Democrat Jocelyn Benson faces Republican John James. Benson was a featured speaker at the Detroit rally. Obama concluded his remarks by emphasizing the value of a fair shot in society, arguing that the system should not operate solely for the benefit of those at the top.