Obama returns to Detroit to back El-Sayed in tight Senate race

Barack Obama stood before thousands of supporters at Cass Technical High School in Detroit on Saturday, urging them to elect Abdul El-Sayed to the US Senate. The rally took place on the first day of early voting ahead of the general election scheduled for 3 November. El-Sayed, a physician and former Wayne county health official, is facing a stiff challenge from Republican nominee Mike Rogers in a contest currently rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report.

The former president used the platform to launch a direct attack on Donald Trump. Obama accused the current administration of fostering a culture where the president enriches himself and his family. He stated that he had never seen a president so intent on selling favors. Obama also mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, questioning how much time the official spends in front of a mirror while focusing on the jawlines and testosterone levels of troops.

Trump’s trade policies drew specific criticism from the former president, who noted that Detroit sits just across a bridge from Canada. Obama referred to Canada as a well-known evil empire that provided the United States with Martin Short and maple syrup. He also targeted the White House renovations, suggesting the current administration should appear on a home renovation television show because the building resembles a Cheesecake Factory opened by Saddam Hussein.

Obama’s appearance marked his first public endorsement of El-Sayed. The two men had different views on healthcare policy before the primary. El-Sayed, a champion of Medicare for All, had previously described the Affordable Care Act, Obama’s signature legislation, as an incremental fix. Obama acknowledged these differences during the rally, telling the crowd that El-Sayed did not agree with every decision he made as president. He added that even his wife, Michelle Obama, does not agree with everything he does.

The Detroit stop was part of a multi-city campaign weekend for Obama. Earlier in the day, he campaigned in Cleveland, Ohio, for former Senator Sherrod Brown and Democratic governor nominee Amy Acton. In Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the party’s candidate for governor, also spoke at the event. El-Sayed had to overcome a deficit in Wayne county, the most populous county in the state, where he lost to moderate Democrat Haley Stevens in the August primary.

Current polling data indicates a close race. A Marist poll of likely voters conducted in mid-October showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by two points, a margin within the error range. RealClearPolitics averages place El-Sayed ahead by approximately 2.6 points. Republicans have not held a Michigan Senate seat in 25 years, but they view this race as a strong opportunity to take control of the chamber. Rogers, a former congressman, lost a 2024 Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by less than half a percentage point.

Slotkin, a featured speaker at the Detroit rally, emphasized unity within the party. She stated that Michigan believes in electing fighters and that she and El-Sayed agree on more than they differ. She described their joint effort as a check on the executive branch. Trump has attacked El-Sayed throughout the campaign, calling him a jihadist and alleging ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, claims El-Sayed has denied. Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Port Huron on Sunday, a city on the Canadian border.

If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim and first Egyptian American to serve in the US Senate. His opponent in the governor’s race, Democrat Jocelyn Benson, faces Republican Congressman John James. Obama closed his remarks by emphasizing shared values. He said the goal is to ensure everybody gets a fair shot in society and that the system is not just run for those at the top.