Representative Haley Stevens of Michigan has spent the final days of the state's closely watched Senate race engaged in a public media tour criticizing her former Democratic primary rival, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, creating internal party friction as Democrats battle to retain control of the U.S. Senate.
Following a bitter primary contest in August won by Dr. El-Sayed, Ms. Stevens has grown increasingly vocal and critical of his campaign. Her frustration escalated during an October state Senate debate when Dr. El-Sayed, an outspoken critic of Israel, declined to answer whether Iran or Israel posed a greater threat to the United States, dismissing the inquiry as a hypothetical question. Ms. Stevens called his response unacceptable during a recent interview at her home in Birmingham, Michigan.
Tensions further intensified over an online advertisement produced by Rebellion PAC, a left-wing group that supported Dr. El-Sayed. Ms. Stevens condemned the ad as antisemitic for linking U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices, and she demanded that Dr. El-Sayed publicly disavow it. Dr. El-Sayed's campaign pushed back against the criticism, issuing a statement asserting that Congresswoman Stevens was attempting to relitigate a concluded primary while declining to directly address her commentary.
The intraparty public feud has baffled other Michigan Democrats who view Dr. El-Sayed as a vital piece in the party's efforts to hold Senate seats against Republican nominee Mike Rogers. Meanwhile, Ms. Stevens's fiancé, Jason Turkish, has taken an even stronger stance against Dr. El-Sayed, publicly endorsing Mr. Rogers. Ms. Stevens stated that she still plans to vote for Dr. El-Sayed and has not retracted her endorsement, though her public hesitation and ongoing criticism have highlighted lingering resistance among moderate Democrats and Jewish voters to his candidacy.
