Obama urges Detroit voters to close gap

Barack Obama spoke to thousands at Cass Technical High School in Detroit on Saturday, focusing on a specific voting deficit that threatens the Democratic Senate candidate. He told the crowd that Abdul El-Sayed needs to win back Wayne County, where Detroit serves as the county seat. In the August primary, El-Sayed lost that specific region to his opponent by a margin of 51% to 45%. Obama pledged to help close that gap before the November 3 general election.

The rally took place on the first day of early voting in Michigan. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee for governor, also addressed the audience. Obama’s appearance marked his first public endorsement of El-Sayed. The former president had stayed out of the August primary, which was marked by internal party conflict. El-Sayed defeated Haley Stevens, a moderate congresswoman backed by establishment Democrats and pro-Israel groups.

During his speech, Obama emphasized the financial stakes for voters. He described El-Sayed as a candidate fighting to move money out of politics and into the pockets of ordinary people. The former president also linked the race to healthcare policy, stating that El-Sayed would finish the work started by the Affordable Care Act. He promised to guarantee quality and affordable healthcare for all Americans.

Obama launched a series of attacks on Donald Trump and his administration. He accused the former president of enriching his family and establishing a culture of taking favors at the top. Obama said he had never seen a president so focused on selling favors. He also targeted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, mocking his focus on the physical appearance of troops. Obama asked the crowd how much time Hegseth spends looking in a mirror.

The former president used tariffs to illustrate the administration's priorities. He noted that Trump was toughest on Canada, a neighbor just across the bridge from Detroit. Obama joked that Canada provided the United States with Martin Short and maple syrup. He also criticized the White House renovations, suggesting Trump should appear on a home improvement television show. He compared the current look of the White House to a Cheesecake Factory opened by Saddam Hussein.

This Detroit stop was part of Obama’s first weekend of in-person campaigning for the midterms. Earlier in the day, he campaigned in Cleveland, Ohio, for Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton. He delivered similar criticisms of the White House during that event. Questions had previously arisen about whether Obama would support El-Sayed. El-Sayed, a Medicare for All advocate, once described the Affordable Care Act as an incremental fix.

Obama addressed their political differences directly. He acknowledged that El-Sayed did not like everything he did as president. He told the crowd that they would not agree on every detail. He added that Michelle Obama also does not agree with everything he does. El-Sayed has called Obama a mentor figure since the two spoke by phone after the primary.

Mike Rogers, the Republican opponent, faces El-Sayed in a race rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. A Marist poll from mid-October showed El-Sayed leading by two points among likely voters. RealClearPolitics data showed a similar lead of about 2.6 points. Republicans have not held a Michigan Senate seat in 25 years. El-Sayed would be the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the US Senate if elected.

Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin spoke at the rally as well. She told the crowd that Michigan believes in electing fighters. She noted that she and El-Sayed agree on more issues than they disagree. She said their shared goal is to put a check and balance on Donald Trump. Trump is scheduled to visit Port Huron on Sunday for a rally with state Republicans. His opponent John James, if elected governor, would be Michigan’s first Black governor.

Obama closed his remarks by focusing on social values. He said the goal is to ensure everybody gets a fair shot in society. He argued that the system should not be run only for those at the top. The former president left the stage after the rally ended at the high school.