Michigan Senate Nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens Clash Over Sunday Unity Event
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Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and former primary rival Rep. Haley Stevens are locked in a messy dispute over a planned Detroit church gathering, exposing the fragility of party unity as the Michigan race tightens.
Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens, who lost the August primary by a narrow margin, are at odds over a Sunday church service in Detroit that was meant to project a picture of unity, even as the party continues to wrestle with internal divisions. The event, organized by Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan and Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, was expected to feature Dr. El-Sayed, Rep. Stevens, Rep. Clyburn and Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, followed by a march to the Detroit Election Department.
Rep. Stevens said she had not been told she was unwelcome, but Dr. El-Sayed’s campaign has asked her to stay away. An adviser to Rep. Clyburn, Antjuan Seawright, rejected the idea that Dr. El-Sayed could simply cancel Stevens’ invitation, stating, "> This is not Abdul’s event. The invitation still stands." The episode underscores how quickly a staged show of solidarity can unravel when internal party tensions are left unresolved.
Ms. Dingell, who had previously confirmed both candidates’ participation, has not responded to requests for comment. Polls show Dr. El-Sayed in a close contest with Republican nominee Mike Rogers, a race that could determine Senate control and highlights how much is riding on whether Democrats can stop fighting each other long enough to defeat their opponent.
The dispute stems in part from differing positions on Israel; Stevens is a strong supporter, while Dr. El-Sayed has been critical of Israeli policy. Their rivalry intensified after Stevens criticized Dr. El-Sayed’s outreach to Black and Jewish voters and questioned his response to a debate question about Iran versus Israel, further inflaming a conflict already shaped by sharp ideological differences.
Stevens issued a statement demanding Dr. El-Sayed apologize for an online ad she described as antisemitic. Dr. El-Sayed replied that Stevens appears intent on “relitigating a primary that ended three months ago” and urged her to focus on the election instead of escalating intraparty conflict.
Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, a Jewish lawyer, has publicly endorsed Rogers, citing Dr. El-Sayed’s stance on Israel. He said he plans to attend the church service but has not confirmed whether he will join Stevens.
The disagreement leaves the planned joint appearance in doubt, with both sides maintaining their positions as the final weekend of the campaign approaches, and with Democratic leaders once again struggling to turn symbolic unity into something real.