Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign asked U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens to stay away from final campaign events in Michigan, capping a sharp public clash over outside political ads and lingering primary tensions just days before the November 3 election.
The fragile peace between Michigan’s Democratic standard-bearer and his former primary rival fractured in the closing days of one of the cycle’s most closely watched Senate contests. El-Sayed and Stevens had not appeared together since a post-primary unity breakfast that pitted the party’s progressive wing against an establishment-favored lawmaker. Plans for a rare joint appearance at a Detroit church alongside South Carolina U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn unraveled after days of dueling statements.
Stevens Demands El-Sayed Condemn Rebellion PAC Ad
The friction burst into public view when Stevens released a conditional statement saying she expected El-Sayed to formally condemn a controversial online ad produced by Rebellion PAC, an independent left-wing group run by Cenk Uygur. The digital spot, set in a grocery store, features a couple returning groceries because we have to set that $7 aside for killing Palestinians
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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… pic.twitter.com/y8BRiV9odX
Stevens argued the ad merely dramatized arguments El-Sayed had made throughout the campaign.
The ad did not invent its argument. It dramatized one Dr. El-Sayed has made in his own words throughout this campaign, that Israel is the reason Michigan cannot afford schools, healthcare and child care.
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, via JNS
Stevens also called on El-Sayed to remove one of his own campaign ads featuring conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, had announced earlier in the week that he planned to vote for El-Sayed’s Republican opponent, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.
Representative Haley Stevens is a courageous leader who deserves the respect of every Michigan voter. She has conducted herself with nothing but class since the Democratic primary, a primary where a majority of voters did not vote for her party’s nominee.She was absolutely…
El-Sayed Distances Campaign from Outside Spending Group
El-Sayed’s campaign distanced itself from Rebellion PAC, stating the outside group had no affiliation with his operation. In a sharp reply on Friday evening, El-Sayed accused Stevens of trying to resurrect past primary fights instead of focusing on the general election against Rogers.
That focus is why our people-powered campaign defeated a historic $70M in outside spending from big corporations and AIPAC on behalf of Congresswoman Stevens.
Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, via HuffPost
A person familiar with the matter confirmed that El-Sayed’s campaign asked Stevens to stay away from any remaining campaign events. A revised campaign advisory for Sunday’s appearance with Clyburn listed no mention of Stevens.
pic.twitter.com/NEd1uijz11
Democratic Infighting Threatens Hopes for Senate Control
The public sparring frustrated state Democrats who feared the late infighting threatened a crucial Senate seat needed to flip control of Congress’ upper chamber.
Other party figures attempted to downplay the fallout. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell defended the unity efforts, emphasizing that the broader team remained focused on winning on Tuesday.
The high-stakes battleground contest carries immense national implications, as the seat currently held by retiring Gary Peters is crucial to Democratic hopes to take control of the United States Senate and put a meaningful check on Donald Trump. Political observers and pollsters note that while El-Sayed holds a narrow lead in recent averages, the margin remains tight.
Several high-profile Democrats have stepped into the fray to urge party discipline. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told reporters while campaigning for House candidate Callie Barr that he has never met someone he agrees with on every single issue, emphasizing the overarching need for unity. Meanwhile, Democratic operative Adam Carlson, who has polled for a pro-El-Sayed super PAC, directed sharp words at party members on social media.
The millennial candidates are communicating on a different level. https://t.co/tbRUj2beae
For Democrats to take back the Senate and put a meaningful check on Donald Trump, before you speak publicly I would implore you to ask yourself ‘is what I’m doing actually helping, or am I just seeking attention?’
Adam Carlson, Democratic operative, via X
State Representative Joe Tate of Detroit, who supported Stevens during the primary before throwing his backing behind El-Sayed, acknowledged that competitive primaries can produce lingering friction. However, Tate maintained that everyone involved should ultimately remain on the same page regarding defeating the Republican nominee.
Amid the political crosscurrents, voters on the ground expressed urgent concerns about core policy issues. Detroit resident Farmer, despite initial difficulty pronouncing the nominee’s name, cast her ballot for El-Sayed three weeks ago due to her family’s reliance on Medicaid and home care benefits. Farmer noted that cuts to Medicaid and delayed benefits for home care workers directly impact her special-needs son, illustrating the everyday pressures driving the electorate in the final hours of the campaign.
More on Abdul El-Sayed
If you are someone with a large platform — whether you are, say, an outgoing member of Congress or an out-of-state streamer — who genuinely wants Abdul El-Sayed to become the next U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan and for Democrats to take back the Senate and put a… https://t.co/hMrbdWC6Po
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. pic.twitter.com/mtgVOyNczg
McMorrow: "First of all, I have no idea what the hell Haley Stevens is doing. This is a moment where we have to recognize the stakes." pic.twitter.com/dRIqFqZwa9
This is a defining moment for national media. If you see any "reporter" saying @RebellionPac ad blames Jews for price of groceries, that person is lying to you on purpose. It's about Israel and never blames anyone for the price of groceries. This is what propaganda looks like.
Haley Stevens is now demanding Abdul El-Sayed "begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford." Doing so would be a lie.The U.S. government itself, in its official explanation, says that we launched the war on Iran in significant part to… https://t.co/TlHdJnDIBP pic.twitter.com/CkpGFkIdck
The ad doesn't "claim Jews are responsible for America’s economic woes," but many people see that inflation has been exacerbated by a war of choice aggressively lobbied for by the Israeli government. This misrepresentation is terrible slander and will only make it harder for…
In 30+ years in politics and media, I've never seen a primary candidate who vastly outspent their opponent and lost then use the final days of the general election trying to still make the election about themselves and to sabotage their party. A truly epic commitment to the bit. https://t.co/iipBxIf32u
If a progressive candidate was actively trying to pin an establishment nominee days before the election the way Stevens is with Abdul right now, they’d be exiled from political life. She wants him to lose because she is more subservient to her pro-Israel donors than she is… https://t.co/OCFBBebVtH
An epic statement demanding a fellow Dem candidate that has nothing to do with an ad that isn’t racist disavow and condemn the ad, and totally ignored the endless actual racist abuse the candidate has had to endure.Does Stevens condemn Cruz saying AES joining the Intel Cttee… https://t.co/s2Sh9JbOqf
I have never seen so many Democrats attempt to ratfuck their own candidate in the final stretch of a campaign. Absolutely insanity. https://t.co/Ay3H08XS6f