Obama Targets Detroit to Close El-Sayed's Wayne County Gap

Barack Obama arrived in Detroit on Saturday to address the polling deficit facing Abdul El-Sayed in the state's Senate race. The former president spoke at Cass Technical High School, a venue chosen to capitalize on the opening day of early voting for the November 3 general election. The event also featured Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee for governor, and Elissa Slotkin, the incumbent senator.

The appearance marked Obama's first public endorsement of El-Sayed. This support was not automatic. The two men have distinct views on healthcare policy. El-Sayed, a physician and former Wayne County health official, advocates for Medicare for All. He previously described the Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature legislative achievement, as an incremental fix. Obama acknowledged this friction on stage. He told the crowd that El-Sayed did not like some things he did as president. Obama said the two are not going to agree on every detail of every issue.

The rally focused on closing a geographic gap. El-Sayed faces his steepest challenge in Wayne County, where Detroit serves as the county seat. In the August primary, moderate candidate Haley Stevens won the county with roughly 51% of the vote to El-Sayed's 45%. Obama urged the audience that El-Sayed is fighting for real change that will get money out of politics and put money in their pockets. He said El-Sayed would finish the job started with the Affordable Care Act and guarantee affordable healthcare to every American.

The former president also took a direct shot at the Trump administration. He accused Donald Trump of enriching himself and his family while setting a culture of taking favors at the top. Obama said he had never seen a president so intent on selling favors. He mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for being laser-focused on the jawline and testosterone levels of troops. Obama also targeted Trump's tariffs, noting they were toughest on Canada, which is just across the bridge from Detroit. He said Trump should be on HGTV because he has the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.

The Detroit stop was the second leg of Obama's first weekend of in-person midterm campaigning. He began the day in Cleveland, Ohio, where he supported former senator Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton. The campaign strategy relies on targeting specific voter demographics and geographic weaknesses. El-Sayed has the most ground to make up in the Detroit area, a city that is more than three-quarters Black.

The race remains statistically tight. A Marist poll of likely voters conducted in mid-October placed El-Sayed at 50% and Republican challenger Mike Rogers at 48%, a margin within the error range. RealClearPolitics' average showed 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 top pickup opportunity. Rogers, a former congressman endorsed by Trump, lost a 2024 Senate race to Slotkin by less than half a percentage point.

Slotkin, who spoke at the rally, told the crowd that Michigan believes in electing fighters. She said it is okay if she and El-Sayed disagree on some points because they agree on much more. She added that they are putting a check and balance on Trump in the White House. Trump has attacked El-Sayed throughout the campaign, calling him a jihadist and alleging ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed strongly denies these claims. Trump is scheduled to rally in Port Huron on Sunday, the first presidential visit to St. Clair County.

If El-Sayed wins, he would become the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the U.S. Senate. His opponent, John James, faces Benson in the gubernatorial race. A James victory would make him Michigan's first Black governor. Obama closed his speech by saying they share values of making sure everybody gets a fair shot and that the system is not just run for those at the top.