Michigan Democrats have plunged back into a bitter internal fight just days before a crucial Senate election, with Abdul El-Sayed and former primary rival Haley Stevens reopening wounds from their contentious contest. The feud comes as El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in a swing state Donald Trump won two years ago.

El-Sayed, a progressive who previously campaigned with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, narrowly defeated the more moderate Stevens in the August primary. Their divisions burst into public view again Wednesday when Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, told The Detroit News that he planned to vote for Rogers.

Mike Rogers Wins! Haley Stevens' fiancé says he's voting for Mike Rogers for Senate

Jason Turkish, the Democratic fiancé of former Sen. candidate Haley Stevens, told the paper he'll vote for Republican Mike Rogers, saying three months of watching convinced him Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is an antisemite who has acted recklessly toward Jewish community safety. He called it "putting country before party." — Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) October 28, 2026

Stevens appeared on CNN hours later and reaffirmed that she would vote for El-Sayed. She nevertheless urged his campaign to “shut out the hate and call it out.”

Haley Stevens on voting for Abdul El-Sayed:

"I still very much want our Democratic nominee, his name is Abdul, to win this race. There is so much on the line. But I will be honest, there are a lot of voters in Michigan, I was out knocking doors earlier today, and they are still undecided and they are hurt and they are confused..." — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 29, 2026

Stevens also said El-Sayed needed to contact voters who had been part of her coalition and “make them feel comfortable about coming to the polls.” By Thursday, the two appeared to be seeking a truce and scheduled a Sunday campaign event in Detroit with South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn.

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Another dispute centered on a television spot run by leftist commentator Cenk Uygur, who is Piker’s uncle. The spot included grocery store conversations, including a woman telling a man she could not afford eggs because their money had been used for “killing Palestinians.”

Listen to me and listen good:

Haley Stevens tried to compel El-Sayed to apologize for Cenk's ad. Muslim men don't take orders from women. People may not want to talk about it this way, but if you don't think El-Sayed is insulted and ENRAGED by her latest effort then you just don't get it. The guy supports Sharia Law. This behavior from Stevens is unacceptable to him. That's the story. That's the dynamic at play. As for Haley Stevens: This could cost them the entire Senate. Michigan has not elected a Republican to the Senate in 25 years. For this reason, she is likely done in Democrat politics. They are going to destroy her. She has one choice and one choice only and that is to pull support from Abdul El-Sayed. Will she also endorse Rogers? What does she have to lose? Her fiance has already endorsed him... She has tried to reconcile their differences but Abdul won't budge. This is all fascinating to say the least... But one thing is absolutely certain: The Democrats, at least in Michigan, are as divided as they have ever been. And I'm here for it. — Shawn Farash (@Shawn_Farash) October 31, 2026

El-Sayed’s campaign said the advertisement was neither produced nor endorsed by the campaign. It also said the campaign “has always been focused on addressing the most critical challenges Michiganders are facing.”

Stevens responded with a lengthy statement early Friday that sharpened the Democratic infighting. “Abdul promises to get money out of politics,” she wrote. “He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford.”

On the eve of the eve of the eve of our BIG and important election, a unifying moment has arrived, our democratic nominee for U.S Senate disavows the Rebellion PAC ad made by Hasan Piker’s uncle that claims Jews are responsible for America’s economic woes. We have learned from party leaders and emissaries, as reported in the news media that he has.

On Sunday I will join with the Great Democratic leader, Jim Clyburn and Dr El Sayed for a church service in the beautiful city of Detroit. The political coalition of Black and Jewish voices that have carried Michigan and this country through so many storms to the righteous path of liberal democracy and equal opportunity for all will ring out. Full statement here: — Haley Stevens (@HaleyforMI) October 30, 2026

El-Sayed has apologized for some previous comments while attempting to unify Democrats. In a Friday statement, however, he highlighted his primary victory and said that while Stevens “seems intent on relitigating a primary... let’s all focus on the task at hand: beating Mike Rogers.”

Quite a statement from Abdul El-Sayed: "Congresswoman Stevens seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago." https://t.co/F11HckhYyL

— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) October 30, 2026

A source with El-Sayed’s campaign told Politico that Stevens should not attend future campaign events “as not to distract from the central issues of the campaign.” Mallory McMorrow, who left the primary and endorsed El-Sayed, said, “I have no idea what the hell Haley Stevens is doing. This is a moment where we have to recognize the stakes.”

Another source who was not working for El-Sayed’s campaign compared the turmoil to a choir being disrupted. “Every Democrat was singing the same tune, but now, because one person is tone deaf, the whole choir is thrown off,” the source said.

EXCLUSIVE: HUGE problem looming for Abdul El-Sayed ... Rep. Haley Stevens is ready to pull her support for the Michigan senatorial candidate and no-show an important campaign rally if he doesn't disavow a couple of controversial political ads ... and the warning is coming straight from Haley's fiancé.

— TMZ (@TMZ) October 30, 2026

Rogers, who has sought support from Jewish Democratic voters, praised Stevens as “a courageous leader who deserves the respect of every Michigan voter.” He said she was “absolutely right to call” on El-Sayed to denounce the advertisement and argued that El-Sayed’s response showed he did not care about those concerns.

Trump delivered a much blunter message during a Friday rally in Daytona Beach, Florida. “If you’re Black, or if you’re Jewish, and you vote for Abdul, you’re not smart,” he said.

The RealClearPolitics polling average showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by five points. Michigan has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1994, while Trump carried the state in 2016 and 2024.

Republicans face their own political challenges, including dissatisfaction with Trump, the Iran war, and high costs. Rogers has remained closely aligned with Trump on most issues and appeared with him at a Sunday rally in Port Huron, where Rogers credited the president with returning manufacturing jobs to Michigan.

El-Sayed has campaigned in heavily Republican areas, including Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. His team also released an advertisement featuring praise from prominent conservative figures, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, but that spot created additional friction with some Jewish voters.

Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield criticized both the Rebellion PAC advertisement and El-Sayed’s campaign advertisement. “We are one week away from the election, and it feels like the temperature has turned way up,” Starr said. “Instead of things getting better over the last seven weeks, they´ve actually gotten worse.”

Both candidates are also pursuing Black voters, especially in Detroit’s Wayne County, where Stevens defeated El-Sayed during the Democratic primary. El-Sayed’s event with Clyburn is part of his effort to strengthen that support, while Rogers has visited a Detroit high school program and discussed housing costs with Pontiac residents.

Stevens had pledged to support El-Sayed following the primary, telling CBS News she would do “whatever he wants me to do” on the campaign trail. Yet after nearly $60 million in advertising attacking El-Sayed, including $30 million from AIPAC, the promised Democratic unity remains elusive only days before voters decide the race.

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