Barack Obama Will Hit The Campaign Trail In Key Senate Race

Former President Barack Obama will campaign alongside Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit later this month, lending his support to the progressive nominee after a bruising Democratic primary exposed divisions within the party.

Obama will appear with El-Sayed at an Oct. 24 rally that will also feature other top Democratic candidates in Michigan, including Jocelyn Benson, the party’s nominee for governor. Obama is getting significantly more involved in the midterm elections, with additional campaign stops and advertisements expected to come in the closing weeks, according to plans shared first with The Associated Press.

The Detroit event is a notable show of support for El-Sayed, who defeated moderate Rep. Haley Stevens in an August primary and has since worked to consolidate Democratic support in his race against Republican Mike Rogers. The open seat is expected to be among a handful that will decide which party controls the majority next year.

Obama taped two dozen ads last week for Democratic candidates for governor and Senate that will be released in the coming days and weeks, in addition to more campaign stops soon to be announced.

He appeared earlier this year in a campaign ad with Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek and campaigned in Texas with Senate candidate James Talarico and the candidate for governor, Gina Hinojosa. This week, he will headline a Washington fundraiser supporting Democratic Senate candidates.

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WHAT THE HELL did I just watch?

Abdul El-Sayed made DISRESPECTFUL jokes about Usha Vance and JD Vance’s sex life:

“What do you think is going through Usha’s head when he talks? She’s like, damn, I have to sleep with him?”

Who says something like this about another person’s…

— Gina Milan (@ginamilan_) October 5, 2026

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Democrat Abdul El-Sayed appears to hold a narrow advantage over Republican Mike Rogers among likely voters in a hotly contested U.S. Senate race in Michigan that is closely watched nationally.

That information is according to a poll whose results are exclusive to CBS Detroit and other select television stations. Mitchell Research & Communications conducted the statewide poll on Oct. 1 among likely voters in the November general election.

Election Day is Nov. 3.

Absentee voting began in Michigan on Sept. 24. When the poll was conducted, 11% of respondents said they had already cast their absentee ballots. Early in-person voting starts statewide on Oct. 24, although local clerks may begin early in-person voting on Oct. 5.

The researchers said El-Sayed is the choice of 45.6% of likely voters, and Rogers is the choice of 41.4% of likely voters.

This could remain a close race.

“The race could tighten, perhaps dramatically,” the research company said, sharing results of previous Michigan Senate races where Republicans picked up support during the last weeks of the campaign.

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