Obama Campaigns With El-sayed in Michigan, Courting Black Voters and Targeting Trump
WHO:
Fox News - Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma, who is from Flint, Michigan, criticized Obama’s pitch involving El-Sayed and Slotkin.
NBC News - Barack Obama campaigned for Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat.
The New York Post - Obama praised El-Sayed and compared the Democratic candidate to his own 2008 presidential campaign; Obama also criticized President Trump.
The Guardian - El-Sayed is a doctor and former Wayne County health official. He won the Democratic primary against Rep. Haley Stevens, who was backed by Democratic establishment figures and pro-Israel organizations.
The Guardian - Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, and Sen. Elissa Slotkin also appeared at the rally. Slotkin said, “Michigan believes in electing fighters,” and “It’s OK because we agree on so much more.”
The Guardian - El-Sayed’s Republican Senate opponent is Mike Rogers, a former congressman endorsed by Trump. Rogers lost to Slotkin in a Senate race by less than half a percentage point.
Fox News - The report described undecided Black voters in Detroit and said Obama’s endorsement had not changed their decision.
WHAT:
Fox News - Kuzma wrote on X, “Last thing that Michiganders care about is a religious identity pitch,” adding that Michigan’s Muslim and Jewish populations are each 1%.
Fox News - Kuzma said, “1 in 4 black people in Michigan are below the poverty line,” and criticized the rally’s focus on a Muslim-Jewish “duo.”
Fox News - A Fox News poll found cost of living was extremely important to voters’ Senate choices; President Trump, immigration, and U.S. policy toward Israel were also considered extremely important.
The Guardian - The Cook Political Report rates the Michigan Senate race a toss-up.
The Guardian - El-Sayed has faced criticism from the Democratic Party’s establishment wing over his appearances with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker.
NBC News - Obama rallied in Detroit to help El-Sayed appeal to Black voters, whose votes could be decisive in the closely contested Senate race.
The New York Post - Obama criticized Trump over tariffs and White House renovations while promoting El-Sayed.
The Guardian - Obama said El-Sayed was “fighting for change, real change, that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket.” He said El-Sayed would “finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act and guarantee quality, affordable healthcare to every single American.”
The Guardian - Obama accused Trump of “enriching himself and his family” and said the administration had established a “culture … at the top” of taking favors. He said, “Never seen a president so intent on selling favors like this.”
The Guardian - Obama mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as “laser-focused” on the “jawline and testosterone levels of our troops,” and asked, “How much time do you think this man spends in front of the mirror every day?”
The Guardian - Obama joked that Trump was toughest on Canada, calling it a “well-known evil empire,” and said, “These are the people who gave us Martin Short and maple syrup.” About White House renovations, Obama said Trump “should be on HGTV” and that he had “the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”
The Guardian - El-Sayed supports Medicare for All and had previously described the Affordable Care Act as an incremental fix. He said Obama was a mentor figure after the two spoke by phone following the primary.
The Guardian - El-Sayed would become the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the U.S. Senate if elected. Benson’s Republican opponent, Rep. John James, would become Michigan’s first Black governor if elected.
The Guardian - Obama acknowledged disagreements with El-Sayed, saying, “We are not going to agree on every detail of every issue,” and added, “You know who else doesn’t agree with everything I do? Michelle Obama.” He said they shared values of ensuring everyone gets “a fair shot” and that the system is not “just run for those at the top.”
WHERE:
The Guardian - Detroit is a few minutes’ drive from Canada across the bridge.
The Guardian - The rally took place at Cass Technical High School in Detroit. Detroit is more than three-quarters Black.
The Guardian - El-Sayed had ground to make up in Wayne County, where Stevens defeated him in the primary by about 51% to 45%.
The Guardian - Trump was scheduled to hold a rally for Michigan Republicans in Port Huron; the city said it would be the first presidential visit to St. Clair County.
WHEN:
Fox News - A Fox News poll released September 30 showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by one point.
The Guardian - The rally took place on the first day of Michigan’s early-voting period; the general election was set for 3 November.
The Guardian - A Marist poll of likely statewide voters conducted in mid-October showed El-Sayed at 50% and Rogers at 48%, within the margin of error. RealClearPolitics’ average had El-Sayed ahead by about 2.6 points in a similar timeframe.
WHY:
Newsweek - El-Sayed is targeting Trump voters with an advertisement featuring praise from conservative figures.
NBC News - The campaign aimed to strengthen El-Sayed’s support among Black voters in Detroit, whose substantial vote could determine the outcome.
The Guardian - Republicans viewed the Michigan Senate seat as one of their better national pickup opportunities; Republicans had not held a Michigan Senate seat in 25 years.
The Guardian - Trump attacked El-Sayed, calling him a “jihadist” and alleging ties to the Muslim Brotherhood; El-Sayed strongly denied the allegation.
HOW:
Newsweek - El-Sayed’s advertisement seeks to court MAGA voters by highlighting conservative praise.
The Guardian - Obama headlined a get-out-the-vote rally for El-Sayed and Benson. It was his first public show of support for El-Sayed after staying on the sidelines during the primary.
The Guardian - The rally was Obama’s first weekend of in-person midterm campaigning; he had also campaigned in Cleveland for Sherrod Brown and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton.
The Guardian - Slotkin said the candidates were “putting a check and balance on Donald Trump in the White House.”
(UPDATED October 25, 2026 17:57 UTC)
Barack Obama campaigned in Detroit for Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, seeking to strengthen his support among Black voters in a closely contested race. At the rally, Obama praised El-Sayed’s promise to get money out of politics and expand affordable health care, while criticizing President Trump over tariffs, personal enrichment and White House renovations. El-Sayed, a doctor and former county health official, won a primary against establishment-backed Representative Haley Stevens. He supports Medicare for All and would be the first Muslim and Egyptian American elected to the Senate. His Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, is endorsed by Trump; polls show a tight contest, rated a toss-up. Senator Elissa Slotkin also appeared, saying Michigan believes in electing fighters. Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma, who is from Michigan, criticized the rally’s focus on religious identity, arguing it neglected poverty. A Fox News poll found cost of living was extremely important to voters.
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(UPDATED October 25, 2026 13:59 UTC)
Barack Obama rallied in Detroit for Abdul El-Sayed, helping the Democratic nominee appeal to Black voters who could decide Michigan’s closely contested Senate race. Obama praised El-Sayed as a fighter for political change and affordable health care, while acknowledging that they disagree on some issues. He also criticized President Trump over tariffs, White House renovations and what Obama called a culture of favors at the top. El-Sayed, a doctor and former Wayne County health official, won the primary against establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens and supports Medicare for All. His Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, is endorsed by Trump, who has attacked El-Sayed with allegations the candidate denies. The Cook Political Report rates the contest a toss-up, and recent polling shows the candidates close. Sen. Elissa Slotkin and gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson joined the rally, where Slotkin said Michigan voters believe in electing fighters.
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(UPDATED October 25, 2026 02:19 UTC)
Barack Obama rallied in Detroit for Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, seeking to strengthen his support among Black voters in a closely contested race. At Cass Technical High School, Obama praised the doctor and former county health official as a fighter for political reform and affordable health care, while acknowledging they do not agree on every issue. He also criticized President Trump, accusing his administration of enriching itself and mocking Trump’s tariffs and White House renovations. El-Sayed, who supports Medicare for All, called Obama a mentor after speaking with him following the Democratic primary. He faces Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman endorsed by Trump, who has attacked El-Sayed with an allegation the candidate firmly denies. Recent polling puts the contest within the margin of error. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Senator Elissa Slotkin also appeared, with Slotkin urging voters to elect fighters and check the president’s power.