Obama to campaign for Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit for final stretch before midterms
By
asserted
Obama → campaign → midterms
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.
asserted
primary → campaign → 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.
asserted
that → appear → 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.
uncertain
stops → get → 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.
asserted
who → defeat → Rogers
The open seat is expected to be among a handful that will decide which party controls the majority next year.
asserted
party → expect → majority
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.
asserted
that → tap → stops
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.
asserted
He → appear → governor
This week, he will headline a Washington fundraiser supporting Democratic Senate candidates.
asserted
he → headline → candidates
Obama aims to help El-Sayed shore up support in a key area
El-Sayed defeated Stevens by less than a percentage point in a primary that became a national test of the Democratic Party’s ideological direction.
asserted
that → aim → direction
El-Sayed drew support from leading progressives, including Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
asserted
Sayed → draw → York
Stevens was backed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
asserted
Stevens → back → Schumer
Some ads that supported Stevens showed Obama praising her, and she outperformed El-Sayed in Wayne County, winning about 51% of the Democratic primary vote compared with 45% for El-Sayed.
asserted
she → support → Sayed
The county includes Detroit, where more than three-quarters of residents are black.
asserted
three → include → residents
Kamala Harris, the first black and South Asian person to serve as vice president, campaigned with El-Sayed last month.
asserted
Harris → serve → Sayed
Now the Oct. 24 rally with Obama, the first black president, could give El-Sayed a boost on the first day of Michigan’s required early in-person voting period.
uncertain
rally → give → period
Obama spoke with El-Sayed by phone following his primary victory.
asserted
Obama → speak → victory
There are open races for governor, secretary of state and attorney general, in addition to control of the state legislature being at play.
asserted
control → be → play
Benson, who will also appear with Obama, is facing Republican Rep. John James in the race for governor.
asserted
who → appear → governor
Benson and James are set to debate for the first time on Tuesday, and El-Sayed and Rogers are scheduled to debate for the first time on Oct. 8.
asserted
Sayed → set → Oct.
Obama returns to the campaign trail for the closing stretch
Obama has been selective in his involvement in the midterms so far, but his planned ramp-up in the final weeks follows a pattern from recent elections.
asserted
up → return → elections
He campaigned in Detroit on Oct. 22 during the 2024 presidential election and was in the city Oct. 29 during the 2022 midterms.
asserted
He → campaign → midterms
His campaign appearances can draw large crowds and prominent guests.
asserted
appearances → draw → crowds
Rapper Eminem introduced Obama at his Detroit rally in 2024.
asserted
Eminem → introduce → 2024
This week, he will headline an event with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee that will include a conversation with Delaware Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester.
asserted
that → headline → Rochester
That follows a September event with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
asserted
That → follow → Committee
The Aporia
