Obama rallies Detroit for El-Sayed

Barack Obama addressed thousands at Cass Technical High School in Detroit on Saturday to back Abdul El-Sayed for the U.S. Senate. The event coincided with the start of early voting in Michigan ahead of the November 3 election. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, also spoke at the rally.

Obama described El-Sayed as a candidate fighting for substantive change that reduces political influence and increases personal income. The former president stated that El-Sayed would complete the work begun with the Affordable Care Act to ensure affordable healthcare for all Americans. This marked Obama's first public endorsement of El-Sayed, a physician and former Wayne County health official who won the August primary after defeating Haley Stevens.

The former president directed sharp criticism at President Donald Trump, accusing him of enriching his family and establishing a culture of taking favors at the top of government. Obama questioned the administration's focus on defense secretary Pete Hegseth, mocking his attention to the physical appearance of troops. He also criticized tariff policies that he said targeted Canada, a close neighbor to Detroit, while jabbing at White House renovation projects.

Obama acknowledged past disagreements between himself and El-Sayed, noting that El-Sayed had previously described the Affordable Care Act as an incremental fix. The former president said they would not agree on every detail but shared a commitment to fairness. He referenced his wife Michelle as another person who does not agree with all his actions.

El-Sayed faces a challenge in Wayne County, where Detroit is located. In the August primary, Stevens outperformed El-Sayed in that area by a margin of 51 percent to 45 percent. Obama last campaigned in Detroit in October 2024 for Kamala Harris. Senator Elissa Slotkin, who was present at the rally, told the crowd that Michigan voters prefer candidates who fight. She stated that the Democratic team aims to provide a check on the current administration.

The race is viewed as a key opportunity for Republicans to gain a Senate seat they have not held in 25 years. El-Sayed is running against Mike Rogers, a former congressman endorsed by Trump. The Cook Political Report rates the contest a toss-up. A mid-October Marist poll showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by two points, while RealClearPolitics reported a similar lead of about 2.6 points.

President Trump plans to hold a rally in Port Huron on Sunday, a visit that will be his first to St. Clair County. If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim and first Egyptian American to serve in the U.S. Senate. Benson is competing against John James, who would become the state's first Black governor if he wins.