Barack Obama to rally in Detroit for Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan Senate race

Barack Obama will travel to Detroit later this month to campaign alongside Abdul El-Sayed, giving the progressive nominee a high-profile boost in a contest that could decide control of the US Senate.

The former president will appear with El-Sayed and Michigan's Democratic nominee for governor, Jocelyn Benson, at a rally on 24 October, the state Democratic party announced on Monday. The appearance falls on the opening day of Michigan's in-person early voting window, ten days before polls close.

"Get. Ready," El-Sayed posted on social media following the announcement.

Why the Detroit stop matters

The Detroit event represents an important display of unity after a bruising Democratic primary in August. El-Sayed, a physician and former Wayne County health director backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, narrowly defeated moderate Representative Haley Stevens by less than a percentage point.

Stevens had entered that race with the backing of Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and retiring Senator Gary Peters. Outside groups, led by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), poured roughly $30m into efforts to defeat El-Sayed, who ran on Medicare for All and vocal opposition to US military assistance to Israel over the war in Gaza. Across the primary, Stevens and allied groups outspent El-Sayed's campaign on television and digital advertising by almost nine to one, according to tracking data from AdImpact.

Stevens carried Wayne County, which includes Detroit, taking roughly 51% of the vote to El-Sayed's 45%. Turnout across the city, where more than three-quarters of residents are Black, remains vital for Democrats in statewide contests. Some primary advertisements for Stevens used archival footage of Obama praising her work, prompting complaints from El-Sayed supporters that the clips gave a misleading impression of an endorsement in a contest where Obama had stayed neutral.

Obama called El-Sayed to congratulate him shortly after his primary victory, and Vice-President Kamala Harris joined the Senate nominee on the campaign trail last month.

The race against Mike Rogers

El-Sayed faces Republican former congressman Mike Rogers in November for the seat Peters is vacating. Rogers ran unsuccessfully for Michigan's other Senate seat in 2024, losing to Democrat Elissa Slotkin even as Donald Trump carried the state at the top of the ticket.

A Marist poll of registered Michigan voters released in late September put El-Sayed ahead of Rogers by 51% to 44%.

While El-Sayed has rejected corporate political action committee donations throughout his political career, he has stepped up efforts to court traditional Democratic donors for the general election. The New York Times reported that he attended a Manhattan fundraiser where donors were asked for up to $57,800 to be shared between his campaign, the state party, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Obama steps up campaign appearances

The Michigan rally forms part of a wider autumn push by the former president as Democrats fight to preserve their narrow margins on Capitol Hill. Obama has recorded roughly two dozen campaign advertisements for Senate and gubernatorial contenders that will run over the coming weeks.

Earlier this year, Obama campaigned in Texas on behalf of Senate candidate James Talarico and gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa, and cut a promotional advertisement for Iowa Senate hopeful Josh Turek. He is also scheduled to lead a Washington fundraising reception for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee this week.