Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed confirmed Sunday that he has spoken with former President Barack Obama and expressed hope that Obama will campaign with him. This outreach follows a contentious primary that exposed divisions within the state's Democratic Party as it seeks to unite ahead of the midterm elections.
El-Sayed described his Friday conversation with Obama as "really warm and inspiring," stating that he was grateful for the former president's advice. "He knows the critical role that Michigan is going to play," El-Sayed said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He added that he "really" hoped Obama would come to Michigan to boost support, referencing Obama's success in carrying the state in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.
An Obama spokesperson confirmed the call between the two.
El-Sayed, a former public health official, narrowly defeated U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in a closely watched primary last week. Democrats view the Michigan Senate seat, left open by retiring Sen. Gary Peters, as crucial to their efforts to regain a Senate majority. The state was won by Republican Donald Trump in 2016 and then by Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.
El-Sayed is set to face Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman. Rogers has sought to exploit lingering tensions within the Democratic Party, releasing a video message attempting to appeal to Democrats who feel the party has shifted too far left under El-Sayed.
Acknowledging the primary's intensity, El-Sayed told CNN's “State of the Union” that while "we aired our differences," the internal divisions are "so much smaller than the similarities that we share." He indicated that the party is coming together, noting that while moderates "might see the world differently," they also "recognize the responsibility to come together."