El-Sayed and Stevens clash over Israel and campaign ads before Michigan showdown
Tensions between the Senate candidate and his former primary rival escalated Friday over policy disagreements and an outside ad, complicating their joint appearance scheduled for Sunday.
By Isabel Moretti ·
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and former primary rival Rep. Haley Stevens traded pointed criticisms on Friday. Their dispute centers on El-Sayed’s stance regarding U.S. aid to Israel and a controversial advertisement created by a third-party group. The friction arrives days before a pivotal general election, with Republican nominee Mike Rogers attempting to win over centrist voters.
Stevens issued a statement demanding an apology from El-Sayed. She referenced his campaign comments suggesting that "Israel is the reason Michigan cannot afford schools, health care, and child care." "Abdul promises to get money out of politics," Stevens wrote. "He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford."
Stevens also asked El-Sayed to condemn a video from the political action committee Rebellion PAC. The ad depicts a couple in a grocery store deciding to put eggs back on the shelf to save money for "killing Palestinians." They then complain about billions in U.S. military support for Israel. El-Sayed’s campaign stated earlier this week that it was not affiliated with the ad in any way. "No one speaks for Abdul but himself and his campaign," the team said.
In response, El-Sayed released a statement Friday evening. He said Stevens "seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago." El-Sayed noted that Stevens endorsed him after he won the nomination, but the two have not campaigned together since. He also urged Stevens to ask El-Sayed to remove an ad featuring Tucker Carlson, a far-right podcaster and former Fox News host.
The disagreement casts uncertainty over their scheduled joint appearance on Sunday. Stevens plans to attend a church event in Detroit with El-Sayed and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn. However, an announcement from El-Sayed’s campaign regarding the event did not mention Stevens.
Stevens’ personal stance on the race also drew attention earlier this week. Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, told The Detroit News that he would vote for Rogers. Stevens later told CNN that she would vote for El-Sayed. She described her household as divided but asked his campaign to "shut out the hate and to call it out."
Source: The US Inquirer
