Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed spoke with former President Barack Obama to discuss party unity following a bruising primary victory. El-Sayed, a progressive, narrowly defeated moderate Rep. Haley Stevens on Aug. 4 to secure the nomination for the critical battleground seat.
The conversation, which an Obama spokesperson confirmed, comes as Democrats attempt to bridge a divide between their progressive and moderate wings. El-Sayed described the call as really warm and inspiring
during interviews Sunday, Aug. 9, with NBC’s “Meet the Press” and CNN’s State of the Union.
Speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper, El-Sayed added, I like to keep private conversations private, but it was a really, really warm conversation.
The Strategy to Win Michigan in November
El-Sayed is now tasked with building a broad coalition to retain the Senate seat, a challenge that mirrors the efforts Obama made during his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. According to representatives for both men, the two discussed how to bring Democrats together to ensure the seat remains in party hands this November.
“I was grateful for his advice. It was very warm, very inviting. And I know that he knows the critical role that Michigan is going to play in holding Trump accountable, in winning back the Senate and in building forward the future that we need.”
Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic Senate nominee
While El-Sayed expressed hope that the former president would join him on the campaign trail, noting that Obama knows a lot about winning Michigan,
Obama has not yet committed to doing so. The stakes are high for the party; a victory in Michigan is considered crucial to regaining a Senate majority, particularly as Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is not seeking reelection in the perennial swing state.
Primary Rifts and the AIPAC Conflict
The path to unity is complicated by a contentious primary that exposed deep ideological fractures. El-Sayed, a former public health official, faced off against Rep. Haley Stevens, who was the preferred candidate of the Democratic establishment. A central point of contention was Stevens’ support from the pro-Israel group AIPAC, which El-Sayed sharply criticized during the race.
The primary was further polarized by endorsements. El-Sayed was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Stevens, a self-proclaimed Zionist, earned the support of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and outgoing Sen. Gary Peters. Despite the friction, Stevens endorsed El-Sayed after his win and indicated she would be open to campaigning with him.
Republican nominee Mike Rogers, a former congressman who narrowly lost a Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin in 2024, is attempting to exploit these divisions. Rogers released a video message specifically targeting disappointed Stevens voters, telling them You have a home with us
in an effort to appeal to those who believe the Democratic Party is moving too far left.
Obama’s Influence on the 2026 Cycle
Though Obama declined to endorse a candidate in the primary, his political brand remained a central theme of the campaign. Outside groups ran television ads tying Obama to Stevens, while other ads highlighted El-Sayed’s past criticisms of former first lady Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity initiative. Stevens also utilized her resume in campaign ads and speeches, stressing her role as chief of staff in Obama’s auto bailout in Michigan, a detail she has used since her first congressional run in 2018.
El-Sayed has long been compared to Obama, starting with his 2018 run for governor when he sought to become the nation’s first Muslim governor. At that time, his rhetorical style and Ivy League background drew frequent comparisons to the first Black president. Speaking with moderator Kristen Welker, El-Sayed noted that he never saw himself as a candidate for public office until Obama’s win the year after he graduated from the University of Michigan. I then watched the next year Barack Hussein Obama run for and win the presidency,
El-Sayed said. I watched him serve with a level of class, a level of elegance that we could only pine for now.
The electoral history of Michigan underscores the difficulty of the current race:
- 2008 & 2012: Won by Barack Obama
- 2016: Won by Donald Trump
- 2020: Won by Joe Biden
- 2024: Won by Donald Trump
Coalition Building and Remaining Hurdles
El-Sayed acknowledged on Sunday that the primary candidates aired our differences,
but he argued that the internal divisions are so much smaller than the similarities that we share.
He noted that while moderate Democrats may see the world differently, there is a collective responsibility to unite, stating, You’re seeing folks come together.
However, El-Sayed still faces headwinds. Beyond courting moderate voters, he has dealt with criticism over his appearances with the streamer Hasan Piker, whose comments about the U.S. some have labeled inflammatory. As the general election approaches, the Democratic strategy relies on whether El-Sayed can transition from a progressive primary winner to a general election candidate capable of holding a swing state.
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