Michigan’s marquee Senate race is getting the full presidential treatment this weekend, with President Trump and former President Barack Obama campaigning on opposite sides of a contest that could help determine control of the upper chamber.
The dueling appearances underscore the importance both parties are placing on the race.
Democrats see holding the open seat as critical to their hopes of flipping the Senate, while Republicans view it as one of their best pickup opportunities this cycle.
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Mr. Obama will kick things off Saturday, joining Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for a rally in Detroit on Michigan’s first day of early voting.
Mr. Trump follows on Sunday with a rally in Port Huron for former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers.
For Democrats, Mr. Obama’s visit also signals that the campaign is focused on turnout and energizing the traditional Democratic coalition in the homestretch heading into Nov. 3.
The former president remains the party’s top draw and is frequently called on to energize Black voters and other key Democratic constituencies.
Mr. Obama’s appearance comes as Democrats continue to keep a close eye on Mr. El-Sayed’s standing with key parts of the party’s coalition, particularly Jewish and Black voters.
Questions about Jewish support for Mr. El-Sayed have lingered because of his consistent criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and his desire to reshape the U.S.-Israel relationship. But some Democrats are equally focused on whether he can maximize support among Black voters, especially in and around Detroit.
The concern stems in part from longstanding tensions between segments of the Arab American and Black communities in southeast Michigan, as well as Mr. El-Sayed’s support for the 2024 “uncommitted” movement. The effort, which protested the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza, won backing from many Arab American and younger voters but also drew criticism from Democrats who argued it hurt Kamala Harris’ bid to become the nation’s first Black female president.
In this year’s primary, Rep. Haley Stevens outperformed Mr. El-Sayed among Black voters, including in Detroit and Genesee County, home to Flint.
Although Ms. Stevens endorsed Mr. El-Sayed after the primary, she has kept a relatively low profile in the general election campaign.
She has nevertheless raised concerns about Republican gains.
“Rogers is working the Black community harder and more successfully than we have ever seen a Republican do or at least that I can remember — ever,” Ms. Stevens recently told Politico.
The Rogers campaign has been aggressively courting those voters, arguing Democrats have taken them for granted. The Republican recently launched an ad featuring Black voters who say Mr. El-Sayed is “for Palestine, but Mike Rogers is for Michigan” and that the Democrat “cares more about the West Bank than West Detroit.”
Mr. Trump, meanwhile, is expected to help energize Republican voters and boost turnout in areas where he remains popular. Republicans believe Mr. Rogers’ path to victory runs through maximizing support among Trump loyalists, winning over a small share of Ms. Stevens’ primary supporters and driving up unfavorable views of Mr. El-Sayed.
The president’s appearance also reflects the degree to which Republicans view Michigan as within reach. GOP strategists believe strong turnout in rural counties and among working-class voters could help offset Democratic advantages in Detroit and its suburbs.
To that end, Mr. Rogers has sought to tie Mr. El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, claims the Democrat has repeatedly rejected, while portraying him as sympathetic to interests linked to Islamic extremism.
The candidates have offered sharply different visions for the state.
Mr. El-Sayed has campaigned as a proud liberal focused on Medicare for all, taxing billionaires and curbing the influence of special interests in politics. He has criticized the Trump administration’s tariffs and war with Iran for making life harder for working-class voters.
Mr. Rogers has emphasized national security and crime. He has tried to distance himself from the Iran war and the Trump tariffs.
Democrats will get another boost Sunday when Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vermont independent, joins Mr. El-Sayed for a “Michigan First” rally in Grand Rapids, giving the Democrat a trio of nationally known surrogates during a pivotal weekend.
The burst of activity comes as the race remains tight.
The latest RealClearPolitics polling average shows Mr. El-Sayed with a 2-point lead.
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