DETROIT, United States — Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed said he has spoken with former President Barack Obama as Democrats seek to rebuild unity after a divisive primary, with the progressive candidate expressing hope that Obama will campaign with him ahead of the November midterm elections.
- Abdul El-Sayed said he spoke with Barack Obama on Friday.
- El-Sayed described the conversation as warm and inspiring and said he welcomed Obama’s advice.
- Michigan Democrats are seeking unity after a bitter primary between El-Sayed and Haley Stevens.
- El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in the November Senate election.
Abdul El-Sayed speaks with Barack Obama
El-Sayed said Sunday that his conversation with Obama took place on Friday and that he was grateful for the former president’s advice. An Obama spokesperson confirmed that the call occurred.
The Michigan Senate nominee said he hoped Obama would visit Michigan and campaign for Democrats before the midterm elections. El-Sayed pointed to Obama’s record in the state, where the former president won the presidential vote in both 2008 and 2012.
El-Sayed said Obama understands the importance of Michigan and the role the state could play in determining the balance of power in Washington.
Michigan Democrats seek unity after bitter primary
The conversation came as Democratic candidates and prominent party figures gathered in Detroit in an effort to demonstrate unity following the closely contested primary.
El-Sayed received the strongest response from the crowd at the rally after narrowly defeating establishment-backed U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic Senate primary last week.
The contest exposed divisions between the party’s progressive and moderate factions. El-Sayed, a former public health official, emerged as the nominee after a closely watched campaign against Stevens.
El-Sayed acknowledges divisions within Democratic Party
Speaking about the primary, El-Sayed acknowledged that Democrats had openly debated their differences during the campaign. He argued, however, that the divisions were outweighed by the issues on which Democrats could work together.
“We aired our differences,” El-Sayed said.
He said Democrats with different ideological positions still recognize their responsibility to unite for the general election.
“We might see the world differently. But we also recognize the responsibility to come together.”
The effort to consolidate Democratic support will be important as El-Sayed prepares for a general election in a state that has repeatedly played a pivotal role in national politics.
Republican Mike Rogers targets Democratic divisions
El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in November. Rogers, a former congressman, narrowly lost the 2024 Senate election to Democrat Elissa Slotkin and is now seeking to use the tensions exposed during the Democratic primary to his advantage.
Rogers has released a video aimed at Democratic voters who believe the party has moved too far to the left under El-Sayed’s nomination. In the message, he sought to present his campaign as an alternative for those voters.
The Republican strategy comes as Democrats attempt to prevent their primary divisions from carrying into the general election.
Michigan Senate race carries national stakes
The Senate contest is particularly important for Democrats because the party is seeking to regain control of the chamber. Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is not seeking reelection, leaving the seat open in a state that remains highly competitive.
Michigan has shifted between the two major parties in recent presidential elections. Republican Donald Trump won the state in 2016 and again in 2024, while Democrat Joe Biden carried it in 2020.
For El-Sayed, the immediate challenge is to turn his primary victory into a broader coalition capable of competing against Rogers. His outreach to Obama and emphasis on Democratic unity are part of that effort as the party moves toward the November election.
