Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed confirmed he spoke with former President Barack Obama following his primary victory in Michigan, calling the conversation ‘warm and inspiring.’ El-Sayed, who narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in the state’s Democratic primary, also expressed hope that Obama would join him on the campaign trail ahead of the general election.
In an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday, El-Sayed described the call as ‘very warm, very inviting,’ and said he was ‘grateful for his advice.’ He emphasized the significance of Michigan in the broader political landscape, stating that the state would play a ‘critical role in holding [President Donald] Trump accountable, in winning back the Senate, and in building forward the future that we need.’
When asked whether Obama planned to campaign with him, El-Sayed replied, ‘I really hope so.’ The conversation follows El-Sayed’s primary win, which exposed divisions within the Democratic Party between its progressive and establishment wings. His victory was backed by prominent progressive figures, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
El-Sayed addressed concerns about his support in Michigan, noting that ‘500,000 more Democrats voted than did Republicans in that election.’ He argued that if this trend continues in November, the outcome would be a ‘landslide’ victory. He acknowledged the tough primary battle but stressed that all Democratic candidates ultimately agreed on the shared goal of defeating Republicans and advancing their policy agenda.
El-Sayed is set to face Republican Mike Rogers in the general election, where Michigan’s Senate race is viewed as a key battleground for control of the chamber.