Detroit has long been a Democratic stronghold. But as Michigan's U.S. Senate race enters its final stretch, both campaigns are putting in significant effort in the city, hoping to boost turnout and persuade undecided voters.

Former President Barack Obama is set to campaign in Detroit this weekend for Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who faces Republican Mike Rogers in a hard-fought race.

On Stateside, Michigan Public Radio Network Capitol Correspondent Colin Jackson said the question isn't whether Detroit will vote Democratic. Instead, it's more about small shifts in voter support and turnout.

"We're not on the precipice of any big change," Jackson said. "But in a tight race, any chipping away at a base can make a difference."

El-Sayed is a familiar name in some Detroit circles. He served as Detroit's health director and later led public health efforts in Wayne County. But Jackson said that experience doesn't necessarily translate into broad voter recognition.

"The public health official of your city or your county is not the most public official you think about," he said. "Most people can't name their state representative or state senator, and those people are on the ballot."

El-Sayed's campaign has centered on the slogan "money out of politics, money in your pocket," as well as support for policies such as Medicare for All. Jackson said those themes appear to appeal to many voters, particularly younger voters looking for change.

"When I talk to people around Wayne State, a lot of the folks seem like they're receptive, especially among the college community who just want to see change in politics," he said.

Still, polling suggests some hesitation among Black voters, even as large majorities continue to favor Democratic control of the Senate. Jackson pointed to several possible explanations, including Republican attacks attempting to tie El-Sayed to socialism, and enduring tensions between Detroit's Black and Arab American communities.

"There has been some historic tension, especially in Detroit, between the Black community and its Arab American community," Jackson said. "I think there's a danger for some folks to tie El-Sayed to that broader tension."

Meanwhile, Republicans are continuing efforts to broaden their reach in the city. Rogers recently opened a campaign office on Detroit's Avenue of Fashion, a highly visible commercial corridor on the city's northwest side.

"It's not often you see Republicans putting office resources in the city," Jackson said. "I think that's a statement."

As always, turnout remains one of the biggest variables. Jackson said interest and involvement, notably among younger Black voters, could play an outsized role in affecting the outcome.

"It's about finding ways to reach folks in ways where they understand how an election affects their life," he said.

Obama's visit comes as early voting gets underway in Michigan. President Donald Trump is also expected to campaign in the state this weekend. Jackson said the overlapping visits highlight Michigan's importance in national politics.

"I think this more speaks to the importance of Michigan and the importance of turning out the vote than it does showing that Democrats could be in trouble," Jackson said.

Listen to the full conversation above.

In 1978, Anna Ansari’s father tried to carry a perfect melon from Tashkent, Uzbekistan all the way to Michigan. He didn’t make it past customs. But he talked about that melon for decades, and it became the start of her cookbook.

"Because he talked about it so much and still talks about these things so much that we could almost taste it. As that power of sharing memory, and the way in which food can connect us across space and time, that story to me really was the epitome of that."

Anna grew up in metro Detroit, the daughter of an Iranian father and an American mother. Her book, Silk Roads: A Flavor Odyssey with Recipes from Baku to Beijing, follows the old trade routes from Central Asia to the Middle East, and she finds her own story along the way.

In this episode of The Dish we talked about:

• The Iranian kebabs and Michigan sweet corn that taste like childhood
• Green noodles colored with dill, and the Uzbek city where you can only find them
• A saffron chicken and rice “cake” Anna has topped with birthday candles
• Her cheeseburger macaroni, which her brother warned would offend Iranians everywhere
• The almond bundt cake her mom made for a house full of Iranian guests, and why it worked

Traverse City has been getting lots of national attention for it's food scene. It was even named Food City of the Year by Midwest Living. But the chefs and wine makers who've shaped this place say the story goes much deeper.

At the second annual Traverse City Food & Wine Festival, The Dish spent time with the people behind the plates. What emerged was deeply rooted to the land, the water, the farms, and the community that lies them together.

Veteran chefs like Eric Patterson of The Cooks' House talked about the decades long relationship with farmers, and one in particular he warmly refers to as "Heirloom Craig."

"We've been with the same grower for 15 years. He provides all of our heirloom tomatoes ... and he brings, between 250 and 500 pounds of tomatoes a week for about eight weeks straight, right around now," he said.

Newer voices, including chefs Cameron Rolka of Umbo and Sarah Bobier of Artisan, described a culinary community that welcomed them in and handed them the keys to the region’s bounty.

"I think they're very supportive. I have all these chefs in the community that mentor me... And likewise, they always come and show up and they're there for me to supporting me all the way through," said Bobier.

Rolka added, "And then just the access to the incredible produce and meat and everything like, that is here. I think it creates something kind of special."

Another voice, chef Adam McMarlin of Wren in Sutton's Bay put it like this: "A lot of the restaurants that have been here before me, like Cooks' House and Trattoria Stella and Tapawingo really kind of paved the way for what people are seeing when they come to town now, you know?"

You taste that closeness through the food. Whether it's cherries picked at peak ripeness, heirloom tomatoes delivered minutes from the vine, or wines shaped by the cold water surrounding Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas. You can feel it in the way chefs show up for each other in mentoring, collaborating, and celebrating what grows here.

As chef Tony Vu of The Good Bowl put it, Traverse City’s food culture is “by far” defined by its ingredients, and by the people who care for them.

It’s a place where the table keeps getting bigger, and it seems there’s room for whoever shows up next.