Eminem’s 2010 hit “Not Afraid” features in a campaign video shared by Michigan Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed early Tuesday, Nov. 3, as Election Day began. The song appeared on the rapper’s album Recovery and topped the Billboard Hot 100.
“Michigan. It’s time. It’s up to us to show the country what’s possible,” El-Sayed wrote in a social media post accompanying the video. “The world is watching.”
Eminem has not commented on the campaign’s use of the track or publicly endorsed a candidate in the 2026 midterm election. The Detroit News reported that El-Sayed’s campaign had not contacted him.
Common performed at a Detroit rally for El-Sayed on Monday night, according to footage shared online. Stevie Wonder also appeared in an Election Day video urging voters to support El-Sayed, gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson and Democratic candidates down the ballot. Bruce Springsteen endorsed El-Sayed on Monday, describing him in an Instagram post as a fighter for the Constitution and American democracy.
The article reported that the race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers for the Senate seat held by Democrat Gary Peters remained close and had not been called by Tuesday evening.
Sources: Billboard.