Barack Obama hasn’t endorsed a Michigan Senate candidate. An AIPAC-linked group is spending millions on ads with him anyway

Barack Obama Hasn’t Endorsed Michigan Senate Candidate, Yet Ads Say Otherwise

Barack Obama hasn t endorsed a Michigan Senate contender, but voters are being told otherwise through a flood of television commercials. Residents across the state may well believe that the former president has thrown his weight behind Representative Haley Stevens, even though no formal endorsement has been issued. The impression stems from a massive advertising push by supporters who have invested $5 million into television spots that have aired close to 4,000 times throughout Michigan. These commercials showcase Obama commending Stevens for her role as chief of staff for the US Auto Rescue Task Force during the turbulent 2008 economic downturn. According to AdImpact figures, this particular spot has been broadcast more frequently than any other political advertisement in Michigan over the past twelve months.

This coordinated effort aims to forge a connection between Stevens and the former president within a state where African American voters constituted approximately one-quarter of the Democratic electorate during the 2022 midterm elections. The messaging also seeks to highlight Stevens’ contributions to preserving Michigan’s legendary automotive sector. As the August 4 primary approaches, the race between the more centrist Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed—a former Detroit public health administrator aiming to capitalize on progressive momentum—has intensified considerably. Notably, Barack Obama hasn t endorsed anyone in this contest, yet the ads create that impression.

We’ve seen some examples of folks saying, ‘Oh, I thought that Obama was supporting her in this race,’ because they’ve seen these ads. I think it is concerning for me because this may be the only time that folks are tuning into the race.

Opponents have begun pushing back against what they view as potentially deceptive tactics. Denzel McCampbell, a Detroit City Council member who supports El-Sayed, expressed concern that voters might be misled during what could be their sole opportunity to follow the contest closely. Meanwhile, Keith Williams, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus and a staunch Stevens ally, defended the approach. He noted that Obama did indeed make those statements, so the ads are not inaccurate. Williams added that Obama remains a highly attractive figure for campaigns to leverage, even though Barack Obama hasn t endorsed the candidate officially.

Financial Disparities and Ideological Divisions

The financial landscape of this primary reveals significant imbalances. External organizations supporting Stevens have contributed over $50 million combined, whereas El-Sayed, who has declined corporate PAC contributions, has attracted fewer than $1 million in outside advertising dollars. Complicating matters further, several of these ads are financed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, placing them at the center of ongoing Democratic debates regarding American backing for Israel.

What are they complaining about? It’s not a lie. He did say that. So, give credit where credit is due. He’s a hot ticket.

The contest carries implications far beyond Michigan’s borders. The victor will confront former Representative Mike Rogers, the anticipated Republican nominee, in a general election that Democrats essentially cannot afford to lose if they hope to reclaim Senate control. Obama’s enduring popularity has become a valuable tool throughout the 2026 electoral cycle. Last year, external groups deployed millions on commercials featuring the former president advocating for partisan redistricting in California and Virginia, while Republican adversaries simultaneously utilized vintage footage of Obama criticizing similar practices in Texas.

During the Illinois Senate primary in March, both Representative Robin Kelly and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton—who secured the Democratic nomination—employed comparable strategies with ads highlighting Obama’s past praise. The United Democracy Project, a super PAC backed by AIPAC that has allocated nearly $30 million toward Stevens, reworked a 2018 rally soundbite for Michigan Democrats, investing $5 million in the spot. In the clip, Obama states that Stevens was a vital component of his team that helped restore the American automobile sector.

She was there. She was a critical part of my team that helped the American auto industry come roaring back.

Another pro-Stevens organization, still keeping its fundraising details private, has launched a comparable commercial using the identical Obama excerpt. The voiceover at the conclusion declares that if the president trusts Stevens, then so does the viewer. David Axelrod, a seasoned Democratic strategist and CNN political commentator, explained that Obama’s standing within the party encourages candidates to suggest his backing even without an official endorsement. He characterized the deployment of archival footage as a clever maneuver, particularly given that African American voters could represent up to a quarter of Michigan’s primary turnout. Ultimately, Barack Obama hasn t endorsed the Michigan Senate candidate, but the advertising dollars tell a different story.