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Eminem’s ‘Not Afraid’ Featured in Abdul El-Sayed’s Election Day Campaign
Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed used Eminem’s 2010 hit “Not Afraid” in a campaign video posted on Election Day, urging voters to show what the state could achieve. The song’s use drew attention because Eminem has not publicly endorsed a candidate in the 2026 midterms, and the campaign reportedly did not contact him.
The article says Eminem previously appeared in Detroit in support of Kamala Harris in 2024, while “Lose Yourself” featured in a 2020 Joe Biden advert. El-Sayed also received support from Common, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen; his close race against Republican Mike Rogers for the Senate seat held by Democrat Gary Peters had not been called by Tuesday evening.
In short
- El-Sayed used Eminem’s “Not Afraid” in an Election Day campaign video.
- Eminem had not endorsed a candidate or been contacted by the campaign.
- Common, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen also backed El-Sayed.
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The case for
A campaign may reasonably use a well-known song to energise voters and connect its message with themes of courage and possibility, especially when the candidate’s video is political expression rather than a claim of endorsement. Eminem’s earlier public support for Democratic candidates may also make the choice seem consistent with his past associations, though it does not establish his position in this race.
The case against
Using “Not Afraid” without contacting Eminem risks leading viewers to infer that he supports El-Sayed, even though he has made no public endorsement in the 2026 midterms. Artists have a legitimate interest in controlling how their work is associated with political campaigns, and a candidate can make the same appeal to voters without using a song in a way that may blur the line between campaign messaging and an artist’s own views.
Explained simply
Michigan is a US state that elects two people to represent it in the Senate, part of the national legislature in Washington. In 2026, Democrat Gary Peters is leaving one of those seats, and voters are choosing who will replace him.
Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic candidate, and Mike Rogers is the Republican candidate. Their contest is one of several races that determine which party has influence in the Senate, where members vote on legislation and confirm government appointments.
Musicians’ songs and public appearances can feature in election campaigns, but using a song does not by itself mean its artist endorses a candidate. Eminem is a Detroit-born rapper whose music has featured in US political campaigns before.