Obama campaigns for Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed ahead of tight race

Former President Barack Obama addressed a crowd in Detroit on Saturday, urging voters to back Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Obama highlighted the candidate’s focus on expanding health-care coverage, raising wages and reducing the influence of money in politics.

“We’re clear about the choice in this election,” Obama said. “Abdul is fighting for change, real change, change that will bring an end to this war. Change that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket. Change that will finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act and guarantee quality, affordable health-care to every single American.” He also criticized President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans for what he described as unfulfilled campaign promises and for policies on the Iran conflict and tariffs that have affected Michigan. The rally came less than two weeks before Election Day and followed a similar appearance by Obama in Cleveland. Local officials, including gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson, joined the event. Polling data cited by the campaign shows El-Sayed leading Republican nominee Mike Rogers among Black voters, with a YouGov survey indicating an 84% share for El-Sayed. A separate Fox News poll reported Rogers receiving 22% of the Black vote. Detroit voters at an early-voting site expressed support for El-Sayed, citing concerns about the economy and a desire for greater accountability in Washington. City Council member Mary Waters, who backed a different Democratic candidate in the primary, said she was undecided but noted existing tensions between Arab American and Black communities in Detroit. El-Sayed acknowledged those tensions in a recent interview, noting that past campaign spending had strained his relationship with Black voters. “Most of that spending was intended to break my relationship with the Black community,” he said. He also reflected on his political lineage, comparing his relationship to Obama’s to that of a child and parent, and thanked Obama for the opportunities created by his administration. Obama concluded by reiterating shared values with El-Sayed on health-care, living wages and affordable housing, emphasizing the importance of a fair economic system for all citizens.