El-Sayed reveals he spoke with Obama after Michigan Senate primary win
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed said he had spoken with former President Barack Obama after winning the state’s primary, describing their call as warm and encouraging. The contact could help El-Sayed unite Democrats following a divisive contest as he prepares for a nationally important November Senate race.
El-Sayed said the conversation took place on Friday and that Obama offered advice on winning in Michigan. Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press”, he said he hoped Obama would campaign for him, noting that the former president carried the state in the 2008 and 2012 elections; El-Sayed defeated establishment-backed Representative Haley Stevens in the primary.
In short
- El-Sayed spoke with Obama after winning Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary.
- He hopes Obama will campaign for him before November.
- The call follows a divisive contest against Haley Stevens.
Explained simply
Abdul El-Sayed is a Democrat who won his party’s nomination to run for Michigan’s seat in the US Senate. The primary was a contest between him and Representative Haley Stevens, who had support from party figures.
Michigan is a competitive state where Democrats and Republicans have both won major elections. The Senate is part of the US Congress, and its members vote on national laws and appointments, so control of the chamber can affect the direction of government. El-Sayed will face his Republican opponent in November.