What We Know About Kyle Kuzma's Pushback on Obama's Michigan Pitch

NBA champion Kyle Kuzma, a Flint, Michigan native, criticized former President Barack Obama's weekend pitch to Michigan voters, arguing that residents of the state are focused on the cost of living rather than the religious identities of candidates, according to OutKick.

What did Kyle Kuzma say about Obama's pitch?

Kuzma's objection, reported by OutKick's Ryan Gaydos on Oct. 25, 2026, centers on how Obama framed the state's Democratic ticket during a Detroit appearance over the weekend. Per the outlet's characterization, Kuzma suggested Michiganders care more about affordability and poverty than about a candidate's faith, pushing back on language Obama used to describe the ticket.

Who is Abdul El-Sayed, and why was Obama campaigning for him?

Obama traveled to Detroit on Saturday to stump for Abdul El-Sayed and a running mate identified in OutKick's report only as Benson, as part of what the outlet calls "the state's Democratic ticket." The visit comes amid what Fox and OutKick describe as a hotly contested Michigan Senate race, with Obama working to energize turnout ahead of the midterms.

What is the 'Muslim-Jewish power duo' reference?

OutKick's subheadline frames Obama's pitch as pairing El-Sayed, who is Muslim, with a Jewish running mate as a "power duo" — a framing Kuzma is reported to have rejected. The outlet says Kuzma argued that leading with religious identity misreads what Michigan voters are actually weighing this cycle.

Why does an NBA champion's reaction matter here?

Kuzma, who has an NBA championship and a hometown connection to Flint, is not a declared candidate or official in the race. His comments matter because they surfaced publicly in the same week national Democrats, including Obama, are making closing arguments in Michigan — and because they echo a broader argument Republicans have made that cost-of-living concerns, not identity framing, will decide close midterm contests.

What's confirmed

• Obama appeared in Detroit on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2026 weekend, per the OutKick report's video attribution to Paul Steinhauser of Fox News Digital.
• Two Democratic figures were named in connection with the rally: El-Sayed and Benson.

What to watch

• Whether Kuzma or other Michigan-connected public figures make further public comments before Election Day.
• How the Michigan Senate campaigns respond to the "power duo" framing in subsequent appearances.
• Turnout and messaging shifts in Detroit and Flint-area precincts as the midterms approach.

Glossary

• Flint native: Kuzma was raised in Flint, Michigan, a detail OutKick cites to establish his standing to comment on the state's political mood.
• Power duo: The phrase used in OutKick's subheadline to describe Obama's pairing of El-Sayed with a Jewish running mate in his Senate-race pitch.

For the full report, including additional context on the Detroit rally, see OutKick's original story.