Barack Obama to campaign for Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit

Former President Barack Obama will campaign in Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday, October 24, to support Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections. Politico, The Hill, Roll Call, ABC News, The Detroit News, Bridge Michigan, the Washington Times, and FOX 2 Detroit all report that Obama will headline the rally alongside Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Politico, The Detroit News, Bridge Michigan, the Washington Times, and FOX 2 Detroit report that Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will also join the event. Benson has served as Michigan secretary of state since 2019. [1][5][6][7][8][11]

The Hill, Roll Call, and ABC News report that El-Sayed is running in an open, competitive Senate race against Republican nominee Mike Rogers. ABC News reports that El-Sayed won the nomination after defeating Haley Stevens in an August primary, which followed a contest that highlighted divisions within the party. Roll Call adds that the open seat is central to Democratic efforts to control the Senate. [2][3][4]

El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and politician, serves as the Democratic nominee in the 2026 Michigan Senate election. Obama was the 2008 Democratic nominee for president and won the general election that November. [9][10]