BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) 鈥� , the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, said Sunday he has spoken with and hopes the former president campaigns with him as the party tries that exposed deep rifts between its progressive and moderate wings.
El-Sayed said his Friday conversation with Obama was 鈥渞eally warm and inspiring.” The candidate did not provide details.
鈥淚 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,鈥� El-Sayed told NBC鈥檚 鈥淢eet the Press.”
Asked if he would like to see Obama come to Michigan to drum up support for Democrats before the in November, El-Sayed said he 鈥渞eally鈥� hoped so and that Obama 鈥渒nows a lot about winning Michigan鈥� after carrying the state in the 2008 and 2012 presidential races.
An Obama spokesperson confirmed the call.
The discussion came the same day that a group of Michigan nominees and other notable national Democrats tried to present a united front at a rally in Detroit. The crowd cheered loudest for El-Sayed, a former public health official who last week establishment-backed U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in a contentious and closely watched primary. A Democratic victory in the fall is crucial to the party’s chances of regaining a Senate majority.
Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is not in the perennial swing state, which Republican won in 2016 and 2024, while Democrat carried in 2020.
El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman who narrowly lost the Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin in 2024 and has tried to capitalize on lingering tensions within the Democratic Party.
Rogers has released a video message attempting to appeal to Democrats who feel their party may be moving too far to the left with El-Sayed. 鈥淵ou have a home with us,” Rogers says in the video.
During an interview Sunday with CNN’s 鈥淪tate of the Union,鈥� El-Sayed acknowledged that “we aired our differences鈥� in the heated primary. But he said the internal divisions are “so much smaller than the similarities that we share.鈥�
鈥淵ou鈥檙e seeing folks come together,鈥� El-Sayed said, before adding of moderate Democrats, 鈥淲e might see the world differently. But we also recognize the responsibility to come together.鈥�
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