Obama Promises Cheaper Healthcare for Detroiters in Senate Bid

Detroit voters gained a new promise for their health insurance costs on Saturday. Barack Obama told a crowd at Cass Technical High School that Abdul El-Sayed would "finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act and guarantee quality, affordable healthcare to every single American." The rally occurred on the first day of early voting for the November 3 general election.

Obama’s appearance marked his first public endorsement of El-Sayed, a physician and former Wayne County health official. The former president stated that El-Sayed is "fighting for change, real change, that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket." El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination after defeating moderate Congresswoman Haley Stevens in August. Obama had stayed out of that primary despite Stevens having the backing of the party establishment and pro-Israel groups.

The former president directed sharp criticism at Donald Trump and his administration. Obama accused Trump of "enriching himself and his family" and said the White House had created a "culture . at the top" of taking favors. He noted, "Never seen a president so intent on selling favors like this." Obama also mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, asking the audience how much time Hegseth spends in front of a mirror while focusing on the "jawline and testosterone levels of our troops."

Tariffs became a central economic theme in the speech. Obama claimed Trump was toughest on "that well-known evil empire," referring to Canada. He joked about the border neighbor by saying, "These are the people who gave us Martin Short and maple syrup." He also criticized Trump’s White House renovations, including a ballroom and Rose Garden projects, suggesting the president should appear on home improvement television.

Obama addressed the political gap between himself and El-Sayed. El-Sayed, a supporter of Medicare for All, had previously described the Affordable Care Act as an incremental fix. The two men have spoken by phone since the primary, and El-Sayed has called Obama a mentor. Obama admitted that El-Sayed "didn't like some things you did as president" but said, "We are not going to agree on every detail of every issue."

El-Sayed faces a specific challenge in Wayne County, where Detroit is located. His primary opponent, Stevens, won that county by about five points in August. The city of Detroit is more than three-quarters Black. Obama last campaigned in the city in October 2024 for Kamala Harris. Senator Elissa Slotkin, a featured speaker at the event, told the crowd that "Michigan believes in electing fighters." She added that the Democrats are "putting a check and balance on Donald Trump in the White House."

The race remains tight. Republicans have not held a Michigan Senate seat in 25 years, but they view the contest as a strong opportunity. El-Sayed runs against former congressman Mike Rogers, who lost a 2024 Senate race by less than half a percentage point. A Marist poll from mid-October shows El-Sayed at 50% and Rogers at 48%, within the margin of error. If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the US Senate.

Obama concluded his address by emphasizing shared values. He said, "We share those values of making sure everybody gets a fair shot in this society, and that the system's not just run for those at the top." The former president had also campaigned in Cleveland earlier that day for Ohio’s gubernatorial and Senate candidates. Trump is scheduled to visit Port Huron on Sunday for a rally with state Republicans.