Full Breakdown
Obama Endorsement Meets Mixed Reaction Among Detroit’s Black Voters
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Former President Barack Obama has formally endorsed Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Michigan. The two are slated to campaign together in Detroit despite El-Sayed’s earlier 2012 criticism of Obama’s record on war, civil liberties and immigration. The race is currently classified as a “toss-up” in national power-ranking analyses, with both parties seeking any advantage in a contest expected to be decided by a narrow margin.
Voter Sentiment and Poll Data
Interviews conducted by Fox News Digital with more than a dozen Black voters in Detroit reveal a split response. Roughly half of those surveyed said Obama’s endorsement improved their view of El-Sayed, while the remainder expressed indifference or skepticism. A Fox News poll released in late September found that 77 % of African-American voters said they supported El-Sayed—still below the typical Democratic benchmark for the demographic. Earlier pre-primary polling indicated stronger backing for Rep. Haley Stevens among Black Democratic voters, and a focus group run by MS NOW reported reluctance among Black Michigan voters to cast their ballots for El-Sayed.
Official Statements & Responses
Kandia Milton, a government-affairs professional with deep ties to Detroit’s African-American community, described Obama’s endorsement as a “great shot in the arm” for El-Sayed’s campaign, emphasizing the former president’s credibility within the community. Milton noted that many voters are “informed” and conduct their own research, suggesting that the endorsement alone will not guarantee votes. El-Sayed’s campaign has not provided additional comment to Fox News Digital.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Honestly, it's a turn-off just because I've seen too many candidates use him just to manipulate the Democratic vote,” — Mercedes
- “For sure, I’m an Obama stan,” — Jamel
- “Somebody who is endorsed by Obama, I would want to vote for them, because I stand behind the things he endorsed at the time, and I think that Obama’s endorsement means a lot to our community,” — Kenya
- “The great thing about Abdul is that he's not new to Detroiters. … And so Detroiters, once they understand his background, understand what he stands for and all the things that he's done in the past, you see greater enthusiasm for his campaign and his candidacy for Senate,” — Kandia Milton
- “I think so often we take for granted the fact that many of the voters are informed voters, all of them are informed voters, and so it's not just the fact that Obama supported him, thus I'm going to vote for Abdul. A lot of folks are doing their own research,” — Kandia Milton