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

Barack Obama told a crowd of thousands at Cass Technical High School in Detroit on Saturday that Abdul El-Sayed is "fighting for change, real change, that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket." The event marked the former president's first public endorsement of the Democratic Senate nominee, taking place on the first day of early voting for the November 3 general election. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, also spoke to the audience.

Obama framed El-Sayed's campaign as a continuation of the healthcare work begun under his presidency. He stated that El-Sayed would "finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act and guarantee quality, affordable healthcare to every single American." El-Sayed, a physician and former Wayne County health official, won a contentious primary in August after defeating moderate Representative Haley Stevens, who held the support of the party establishment.

The former president directed sharp criticism at President Donald Trump, accusing the administration of enriching the first family and establishing a culture of taking favors. Obama remarked that he had never seen a president so intent on selling favors. He also targeted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, mocking the official for being laser-focused on the jawline and testosterone levels of military troops.

On the topic of trade policy, Obama argued that Trump was harshest on Canada, a neighbor just across the bridge from Detroit. The former president noted that Canadians provided the United States with Martin Short and maple syrup. He further criticized the White House renovation projects, including the ballroom and Rose Garden, suggesting Trump should be on HGTV for making the residence look like a Cheesecake Factory.

The Detroit stop was the second event of Obama's first in-person campaigning weekend during the midterms. Earlier that day, he campaigned in Cleveland, Ohio, for former Senator Sherrod Brown and Governor nominee Amy Acton, delivering similar criticisms of the White House and the Republican Party.

Tensions existed between the two Democrats prior to the rally. El-Sayed, a supporter of Medicare for All, had previously described the Affordable Care Act as an incremental fix. The two men spoke by phone after the primary, and El-Sayed has since called Obama a mentor. Acknowledging their past differences, Obama said El-Sayed did not like some of his presidential decisions but that they did not need to agree on every detail, citing Michelle Obama as another person who does not agree with everything he does.

El-Sayed faces a substantial hurdle in Wayne County, where Detroit is the county seat. In the August primaries, Stevens defeated El-Sayed in that region by a margin of 51% to 45%. Obama last campaigned in Detroit, a city that is more than three-quarters Black, in October 2024 for Kamala Harris, who also joined El-Sayed in the city last month.

Republicans have not held a Michigan Senate seat in 25 years, though they view this race as a top pickup opportunity. El-Sayed is competing against former Representative Mike Rogers, who lost a 2024 Senate race to Elissa Slotkin by less than half a percentage point. The Cook Political Report rates the contest a toss-up. A Marist poll from mid-October showed El-Sayed at 50% and Rogers at 48%, within the margin of error, while RealClearPolitics averages place El-Sayed ahead by 2.6 points.

Senator Elissa Slotkin addressed the crowd at the rally, stating that Michigan believes in electing fighters. She said that despite any disagreements with El-Sayed, they agree on much more and are putting a check on Donald Trump in the White House. Trump is scheduled to rally in Port Huron on Sunday, a visit that state officials described as the first presidential trip to St. Clair County. If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the US Senate.

Obama concluded his remarks by emphasizing the shared value of ensuring everybody gets a fair shot in society, noting that the system should not be run solely for those at the top.