Michigan Senate primary exposes clash over Israel, campaign money, and a PAC ad
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Democratic Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens traded sharp attacks on Friday, with Stevens demanding an apology over El-Sayed’s remarks on Israel and blasting a PAC video she called antisemitic.
Michigan Democratic Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens publicly clashed on Friday ahead of a joint campaign appearance scheduled for Sunday. The dispute underscored the party’s deep internal tensions, as Stevens accused El-Sayed, a pointed critic of U.S. aid to Israel, of blaming Israel for Michigan’s fiscal challenges and demanded that he apologize for the remarks.
"Abdul promises to get money out of politics. He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford," Stevens said in a statement.
Stevens also called on El-Sayed to denounce a video ad produced by the Rebellion political action committee, which she described as antisemitic. The ad features a couple discussing the cost of “killing Palestinians” and criticizes U.S. military support for Israel. El-Sayed’s campaign said it had no connection to the ad and that only he and his campaign speak for him.
"No one speaks for Abdul but himself and his campaign," the campaign said.
In addition, Stevens said El-Sayed should remove his own advertisement that includes far-right podcaster and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The two candidates have not often appeared together, though Stevens said she would share a stage with El-Sayed at a Detroit church event alongside Rep. Jim Clyburn.
The dispute comes as Republican nominee Mike Rogers seeks to peel away centrist Democratic voters in a closely watched Senate race.