Obama targets Detroit voters in Michigan Senate race

Barack Obama addressed thousands of supporters at Cass Technical High School in Detroit on Saturday. The event coincided with the start of early voting in Michigan, a process that runs until the November 3 general election. The former president used the stage to endorse Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for the state's open Senate seat.

Obama told the crowd that El-Sayed would continue the work of the Affordable Care Act. He described the nominee as a candidate for change that would move money out of politics and into voters' pockets. This was the former president's first public endorsement of El-Sayed, a doctor and former Wayne County health official. El-Sayed won the Democratic primary in August after defeating Haley Stevens, a moderate congresswoman backed by party establishment figures.

The former president spent considerable time criticizing Donald Trump. Obama accused the current administration of enriching itself and creating a culture of taking favors. He specifically mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, questioning how much time the secretary spends in front of a mirror. On trade policy, Obama said Trump was hardest on Canada, joking that the neighbors provided Martin Short and maple syrup. He also compared Trump's White House renovations to a Cheesecake Factory.

Tensions existed between Obama and El-Sayed before the primary. El-Sayed, a supporter of Medicare for All, had previously called the Affordable Care Act an incremental fix. The two men spoke by phone after the primary, and El-Sayed has described Obama as a mentor. Obama acknowledged their differences on stage, noting that they do not agree on every detail of every issue. He cited Michelle Obama as another person who does not agree with everything he does.

El-Sayed faces a difficult task in Wayne County, where Detroit is located. In the August primary, his rival Haley Stevens won the county with approximately 51% of the vote to El-Sayed's 45%. Obama last campaigned in Detroit in October 2024 for Kamala Harris. The city is more than three-quarters Black, and Harris joined El-Sayed there last month.

The race is statistically close. A Marist poll from mid-October showed El-Sayed at 50% and Republican opponent Mike Rogers at 48%. RealClearPolitics data from the same period placed El-Sayed ahead by about 2.6 points. 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 strong opportunity for a pickup.

Elissa Slotkin, the state's current senator, spoke at the rally. She told the audience that Michigan elects fighters and that the party agrees on more than it disagrees. She said the Democrats aim to provide a check and balance on the White House. Trump has attacked El-Sayed during the campaign, calling him a jihadist and alleging ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed strongly denies these claims.

Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Michigan on Sunday. He will hold a rally in Port Huron, a city on the Canadian border. The event will be the first presidential visit to St. Clair County. If elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim and first Egyptian American to serve in the US Senate. Obama closed his speech by emphasizing the value of a fair shot for everyone in society.