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Abdul El-Sayed’s final campaign video for Michigan’s 2026 U.S. Senate election uses Eminem’s 2010 song “Not Afraid.” The video appeared on Election Day after Eminem recently collaborated with Kid Rock, a vocal critic of El-Sayed; the report says Eminem granted use of his music but does not detail the licensing terms.
Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, used Eminem’s “Not Afraid” in his final campaign video on Election Day, November 3, 2026. The report says Eminem granted use of the song, a development drawing attention because the rapper recently collaborated with Kid Rock, one of El-Sayed’s outspoken critics.
The video was posted to El-Sayed’s account on X with a message urging Michiganders to vote. It said polls were open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and told viewers, “Michigan. It’s time. It’s up to us to show the country what’s possible. The world is watching.” The campaign paired the song with a pun about doing the effort “for MI,” a reference to Michigan’s postal abbreviation.
The track, released in 2010, appears in what the report described as the final video of El-Sayed’s 2026 campaign as of publication. The source reports that Eminem granted the music for the message, but does not provide details about permission, licensing, payment or whether the rapper endorsed El-Sayed.
El-Sayed is running against former congressman Mike Rogers for the Senate seat held by Gary Peters since 2015. The report identifies Peters as the incumbent whose seat is at stake, but supplies no election results or polling information.
Eminem’s Music Enters Michigan’s Senate Race
The use of a prominent Michigan artist’s song gives El-Sayed’s closing campaign message a recognizable soundtrack and connects the ad to the state’s cultural identity. The report’s account of permission from Eminem also distinguishes the video from an unauthorized use of the recording, though the specific terms are not described.
The development stands out because of the contrast between Eminem’s reported support for allowing the campaign to use his music and his recent collaboration with Kid Rock, who has criticized El-Sayed. That contrast is relevant to the campaign story, but music use alone does not establish an endorsement or indicate a change in the relationships among the three men.
For voters, the immediate significance is practical: the post was a last-day turnout appeal ahead of the Senate election. Whether the video affected voter decisions or turnout is not established in the available material.
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A Campaign Closing Against Rogers
El-Sayed’s contest with Rogers is for the Michigan Senate seat held by Gary Peters since 2015. The report frames the video as the final message of El-Sayed’s campaign and places it on Election Day, when the polls were scheduled to close at 8 p.m. local time.
The music choice follows a separate recent development: Eminem collaborated with Kid Rock on a 2026 song called “Heal My Faith.” The report says the song had a short stay on the Billboard charts, without giving chart positions or dates. It also says Kid Rock had compared El-Sayed to the hijackers responsible for the September 11 attacks. That comparison is attributed to the report; no additional detail about when or where Kid Rock made it is provided.
The political and musical links are the reason the video attracted notice, but the available account does not establish that Eminem’s decision was a response to Kid Rock’s remarks or collaboration.
“Michigan. It’s time. It’s up to us to show the country what’s possible. The world is watching. Polls are open 7AM-8PM.”
— Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign post on X, November 3, 2026
Permission Is Not an Endorsement
The report says Eminem granted use of “Not Afraid,” but does not describe how permission was arranged, whether a licensing agreement was signed, or whether the campaign paid to use the recording. It also does not quote Eminem directly or say that he publicly endorsed El-Sayed.
At publication, the supplied material did not include election results, vote totals, or a response from Rogers. It is also unclear whether the video remained the campaign’s final message after it was posted, since the report qualifies that description as accurate “as of publication.”
Election Results and Campaign Response
The next concrete development is the outcome of the Michigan Senate election between El-Sayed and Rogers. The source material provides no results, so the winner and vote margin cannot be stated here. Results reporting will establish whether the Election Day appeal preceded a victory or defeat.
Further details about the song’s use could clarify the permission and licensing arrangements and whether Eminem intended his decision to be understood as political support. Until such information is reported, the confirmed development is the song’s appearance in El-Sayed’s video and the report’s account that Eminem granted its use.
Key Questions
Which Eminem song did El-Sayed use?
The campaign video used “Not Afraid,” Eminem’s 2010 song.
Did Eminem endorse Abdul El-Sayed?
The report says Eminem granted use of his music, but it does not say he publicly endorsed El-Sayed. Permission to use a song is not, by itself, confirmation of an endorsement.
Why did the use of the song draw attention?
Eminem had recently collaborated with Kid Rock, whom the report describes as a vocal critic of El-Sayed. The contrast drew attention to the campaign video.
Who was El-Sayed running against?
El-Sayed was running against former congressman Mike Rogers for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat held by Gary Peters.
What are the terms of Eminem’s permission?
The report does not give details about the licensing agreement, payment or other conditions for the song’s use.
Source: consequence.net
