Democrat Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is asking former President Barack Obama to help his campaign. The two are scheduled to appear together at a rally on October 24.
This request comes after El-Sayed spent years harshly criticizing Obama’s record in office. He once called the former president a leader who violated civil liberties and perpetuated war. Now he wants the man he attacked to stand on stage with him.
2020. Abdul El-Sayed argues that the country was worse off after Obama’s presidency.
Former Democrat Senator Heidi Heitkamp strongly disagreed.
Obama is about to start campaigning with El-Sayed. It would be a shame if this video got passed around. 😜 https://t.co/4NfoFPA9Gy
— MAZE (@mazemoore) October 6, 2026
El-Sayed did not hold back his feelings after Obama won the 2012 election. Stemming from the silly emotions of a naïve young man who failed to grasp that hope and change demanded more than flowery prose and a winning smile, he said his vote for him originated there.
Because there has been less change, he understood he possessed “little hope.” El-Sayed stated plainly that “Obama’s reelection last night was no victory.” He claimed the former president deported more people than any other leader before him.
Abdul El-Sayed compares Obama to his dad after getting called out for saying he was “not the right choice” for President.
NBC: Do you still see Obama’s presidency as a failure?
EL-SAYED: “I think about my dad…There’s a lot of things about my dad I’d do differently.” https://t.co/k8avAsfqjp
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 11, 2026
These comments from 2012 were reported by RedState as part of the current controversy. El-Sayed contended in 2020 that the nation fared worse following Obama’s departure from office.
Former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp strongly disagreed with that claim at the time. El-Sayed now faces a choice between his past words and his current need for votes. The contrast is stark for voters who remember his earlier stance.
President @BarackObama showed me something in myself I might never have seen without him. I’m humbled to have his support in this fight. The Affordable Care Act will have laid the groundwork for guaranteed healthcare, and I’m honored to pick up his baton and finally pass Medicare for All.
— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) October 12, 2026
El-Sayed also faces questions about his family’s connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. He denied these ties during an interview that aired Sunday on NBC News “Meet the Press.” Host Kristen Welker asked him directly to set the record straight about any links.
When Welker pressed, “No, you don’t have any ties?” he said, “No.” She asked again, “And your family doesn’t?” and he replied, “No.” Michiganders’ health and safety have been the focus of his entire career. They added that “Independent fact checkers have repeatedly debunked Mike’s lies.”
Abdul wants you to forget what he had to say about President Obama. https://t.co/97y8XcsMi3
— Democrats For Mike Rogers (@DemsForMike) October 12, 2026
The rally with Obama is set for October 24 in Michigan. This event will test whether voters accept the candidate’s new direction. El-Sayed must explain why he now seeks help from a man he once called a failure. The campaign says his critics are lying, but the old quotes remain in the public record.
Voters will decide if the past matters more than the present promise. RedState notes the irony of a candidate asking for help from the very leader he mocked. The outcome of this race will depend on how Michigan handles this contradiction.
