Politics · United States · 23 mins ago
El-Sayed and Stevens clash days before Michigan Senate race
Abdul El-Sayed and Rep.
Haley Stevens clashed Friday ahead of Michigan’s closely watched US Senate race.
Both are Democrats, and El-Sayed won the party’s nomination three months ago.
Stevens endorsed him, but the two have rarely campaigned together since the primary.
Stevens called on El-Sayed to apologize for saying Israel was the reason Michigan could not afford schools, health care and child care.
She also urged him to condemn an outside group’s ad about US aid to Israel, which she called antisemitic.
El-Sayed’s campaign said it had no connection to the ad, made by Rebellion PAC.
Republican nominee Mike Rogers is seeking centrist Democratic voters as he competes for the Senate seat.
El-Sayed and Stevens were expected to appear together Sunday at a Detroit church, but the dispute has left their joint appearance uncertain.
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens clashed publicly on Friday, days before a Sunday campaign event where both were expected to appear.
Stevens called on El-Sayed to apologize for remarks linking Israel to Michigan’s difficulties funding public services and to condemn an outside PAC ad she said was antisemitic.
El-Sayed said Stevens seemed intent on reopening a primary that ended three months earlier.
His campaign has asked Stevens to skip campaign events in the race’s closing days, a source told CNN.
The dispute comes as Republican nominee Mike Rogers seeks to win over centrist Democratic voters.
- Who
- Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens, his former primary rival.
- What
- They clashed over El-Sayed’s comments about Israel and political ads. His campaign asked Stevens to skip events in the race’s closing days, according to a source cited by CNN.
- When
- Friday, October 30, 2026, days before a Sunday campaign event.
- Where
- Michigan; Stevens said the Sunday appearance was planned at a Detroit church.
- Why
- Stevens objected to El-Sayed’s remarks about Israel and urged him to condemn an outside PAC ad she called antisemitic. El-Sayed said she was relitigating the primary.
Haley Stevens
Abdul El-Sayed
Remarks about Israel
Haley Stevens
Stevens said El-Sayed should apologize for suggesting Israel was why Michigan could not afford schools, health care and child care.
Abdul El-Sayed
El-Sayed’s campaign said Stevens seemed intent on reopening a primary that had ended three months earlier.
Outside PAC ad
Haley Stevens
Stevens said the ad was antisemitic and urged El-Sayed to condemn it.
Abdul El-Sayed
El-Sayed’s campaign said it was not affiliated with the ad.
El-Sayed won the Democratic primary, which Stevens later endorsed him in.
El-Sayed’s campaign said it was not affiliated with the Rebellion PAC ad.
Stevens’ fiancé said he would vote for Republican nominee Mike Rogers; Stevens later said she would vote for El-Sayed.
Stevens and El-Sayed issued statements criticizing each other over Israel-related remarks and campaign ads.
Stevens said she planned to appear with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn at a Detroit church.
- Democratic nominee
- Abdul El-Sayed
- Former primary rival
- Rep. Haley Stevens
- Republican nominee
- Mike Rogers
- Sunday event
- Detroit church, with Rep. Jim Clyburn
- Outside PAC
- Rebellion PAC
2 sources
What people are saying
He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford.
seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago.
I think it’s sour grapes from Haley Stevens… this is absolutely ridiculous
I’m all for criticism inside the party. We call that primaries. Okay, Haley Stevens lost hers.
Posts on X
On the eve of the eve of the eve of our BIG and important election, a unifying moment has arrived, our democratic nominee for U.S Senate disavows the Rebellion PAC ad made by Hasan Piker’s uncle that claims Jews are responsible for America’s economic woes. We have learned from
New @RebellionPac ad dropping in Michigan. We have to suffer here at home, so Israel can get all its wars. That’s why they buy politicians like Mike Rogers. He promised to serve Israel “unconditionally,” but never made that promise to you.