In the final days before a Senate contest that many across the country are watching closely, two Michigan Democrats who once competed for the same nomination found themselves trading accusations in public. The dispute, over remarks about Israel, an outside advertisement, and the lingering memory of a primary, reveals how difficult it can be to hold a fractured coalition together when the stakes are high. Whether the rivals will stand side by side on Sunday remains an open question, and in that uncertainty lies the familiar human tension of politics: loyalty to a party pulling against the bruis
El-Sayed and Stevens Trade Barbs Over Israel, Ads Days Before Michigan Senate Vote
"A household divided" — and a party that is, too
Mark
Why does a spat between two Democrats matter this close to the election?
Mimi
Because Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee, is trying to win centrist Democrats. Stevens represents that wing, and the two have barely campaigned together since the primary.
Mark
What exactly is Stevens demanding?
Mimi
Three things: an apology for his remark about Israel and Michigan's affordability, a condemnation of the Rebellion PAC ad, and removal of his own ad featuring Tucker Carlson.
Luke
Worth separating those. The PAC ad isn't his. His campaign says it has no affiliation and that no one speaks for him but himself.
Mark
Has he condemned the ad, then?
Luke
The reporting only says he disavowed any connection. It doesn't say he condemned the content, which is what she asked for.
Mimi
And his reply, that she's relitigating the primary, doesn't address her specific demands.
Mark
What about the Sunday event?
Luke
Unknown. Stevens says she'll be there with Jim Clyburn, but El-Sayed's announcement didn't mention her.
Mimi
There's also the fiancé, Jason Turkish, saying he'll vote for Rogers, while Stevens says she'll vote for El-Sayed.
Luke
That's confirmed, but it tells us about her household, not about how voters will behave.
Il Polso
- Two Democrats who battled for the Senate nomination are now publicly trading sharp accusations just days before a closely contested general election.
- Stevens demands an apology and a condemnation of an outside PAC ad she calls antisemitic, while El-Sayed's campaign insists it has no link to that ad.
- El-Sayed dismisses the attack as an effort to reopen a primary that ended three months ago, sharpening the divide rather than closing it.
- A rare joint appearance at a Detroit church with Jim Clyburn hangs in doubt as the feud deepens and Republican Mike Rogers courts centrist voters.
In the final days before a Senate contest that many across the country are watching closely, two Michigan Democrats who once competed for the same nomination found themselves trading accusations in public. The dispute, over remarks about Israel, an outside advertisement, and the lingering memory of a primary, reveals how difficult it can be to hold a fractured coalition together when the stakes are high. Whether the rivals will stand side by side on Sunday remains an open question, and in that uncertainty lies the familiar human tension of politics: loyalty to a party pulling against the bruises of a fight that has not yet fully healed.
On Friday, days before one of the most closely watched Senate elections in the country, Michigan Democrats Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens exchanged public accusations. El-Sayed is now the party's nominee, and Stevens is the moderate rival he defeated in the primary. Both had been expected to appear together at a Sunday campaign event, but by evening it was unclear whether that would still happen.
Stevens opened the exchange by demanding that El-Sayed apologize for saying that Israel is why Michigan cannot afford schools, health care, and child care. She also asked him to condemn an ad from the outside group Rebellion PAC, which she called antisemitic, and to take down one of his own ads featuring Tucker Carlson. El-Sayed's campaign said it had no connection to the Rebellion PAC ad.
El-Sayed responded that Stevens was trying to relitigate a primary that ended three months ago. The feud arrives as Republican Mike Rogers works to win over centrist Democrats, and the two have rarely campaigned together since Stevens endorsed El-Sayed. The personal side adds weight: Stevens' fiancé said he would vote for Rogers, while Stevens said she would vote for El-Sayed and called their situation a household divided, urging his campaign to call out hateful messaging.
The next test is Sunday in Detroit, where it remains to be seen whether the two will share a stage with Clyburn and whether either will give ground before voters go to the polls.
On Friday, days before one of the most closely watched Senate elections in the country, two Michigan Democrats who once fought each other for the same nomination traded public accusations. Abdul El-Sayed, the party's Senate nominee, and Rep. Haley Stevens, the more moderate rival he beat in the primary, were both expected to appear together at a campaign event on Sunday. By Friday evening, it was unclear what the dispute meant for that appearance.
The argument began with a statement from Stevens. She demanded that El-Sayed, a vehement critic of U.S. aid to Israel, apologize for suggesting during the campaign that Israel is the reason Michigan cannot afford schools, health care, and child care. "Abdul promises to get money out of politics," she said. "He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford."
Stevens also pressed El-Sayed to condemn an advertisement from an outside group, Rebellion PAC, which she called antisemitic. In the video, a couple in a grocery store talk about putting a carton of eggs back on the shelf because they have to set aside $7 for killing Palestinians. The man and woman then complain about the billions in military support the United States has given Israel. El-Sayed's campaign had said earlier in the week that it was not affiliated with the ad "in any way." The campaign added that no one speaks for Abdul but himself and his campaign.
Stevens made a third demand: that El-Sayed take down one of his own ads, which features Tucker Carlson, the far-right podcaster and former Fox News host.
El-Sayed answered in a statement Friday evening. He said Stevens "seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago." His reply came hours after hers.
The feud lands at a delicate moment. Republican nominee Mike Rogers is trying to peel off centrist Democratic voters, and the primary showed how differently El-Sayed and Stevens see the party's future. Stevens endorsed El-Sayed after he won the nomination, but the two have largely not campaigned side by side, which is why Sunday's event was considered a rare joint appearance.
Stevens said she planned to join El-Sayed at a church in Detroit, along with South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn. The announcement from El-Sayed's campaign about his appearance with Clyburn did not mention Stevens.
The tension has a personal side as well. Earlier in the week, Stevens' fiancé, Jason Turkish, told The Detroit News that he would vote for Rogers. Later that same day, Stevens said in a CNN interview that she would vote for El-Sayed, calling theirs "a household divided." Even so, she urged his campaign to shut out the hate and call it out.
What to watch now is Sunday at the Detroit church: whether Stevens and El-Sayed share a stage with Clyburn, and whether either gives ground before the vote.
Citazioni salienti
He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford.— Rep. Haley Stevens
Stevens seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago.— Abdul El-Sayed
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Politics & Governance