Michigan Senate Race: One Week Left, Divisions Persist
Jason Turkish, the fiancé of former candidate Haley Stevens, said he will vote for Republican Mike Rogers, intensifying scrutiny of Abdul El-Sayed's campaign.
By Nicholas Martin ·
Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s Senate seat, faces internal party friction with seven days left in the election. Tensions that began during the primary have resurfaced in the final week, centering on El-Sayed’s outreach strategy and his handling of specific voter groups. His Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, continues to campaign closely aligned with President Donald Trump.
The most visible sign of the split came on Wednesday, when Jason Turkish spoke to The Detroit News. Turkish is the fiancé of Rep. Haley Stevens, El-Sayed’s primary opponent. Turkish stated he intends to vote for Rogers. Stevens reacted on CNN a few hours later. She confirmed she would vote for El-Sayed but told his team to "shut out the hate and call it out." She urged the campaign to make her coalition members feel comfortable coming to the polls.
El-Sayed has focused on recruiting new voters, including college students and rural residents, rather than just consolidating his base. Critics within the Jewish community, including Turkish, argue he has not done enough to address their concerns. Specific worries include El-Sayed's past remarks on Israel and his association with streamer Hasan Piker.
A recent advertisement by the independent group Rebellion PAC added to the tension. The ad linked U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices. El-Sayed said the ad had "nothing to do with our campaign." He noted it was "certainly not what I want to be talking about right now." Stevens and other Democrats wanted a stronger denial of the ad's content.
Rogers is capitalizing on dissatisfaction with Trump and high costs. He appeared with the president at a Michigan rally on Sunday. Rogers credited Trump with bringing manufacturing jobs back to the state. El-Sayed is targeting these frustrations by holding events in Republican-heavy areas, such as the Upper Peninsula.
El-Sayed released a campaign ad featuring clips from conservative figures who praised him. One clip included Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host. Carlson has faced accusations of antisemitism, which he denies. This outreach has created new friction with some Jewish voters.
Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield criticized both the Rebellion PAC ad and El-Sayed’s campaign ad during a call with reporters. Starr said the temperature in the race had turned up in the final week. He noted that conditions have gotten worse over the last seven weeks instead of improving.
Source: MySA
