Michigan Democratic leaders reaffirmed their support for U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed after U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers, exposing a party rift before the Nov. 3 election.
The vote will fill the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. Michigan’s candidate listing names El-Sayed and Rogers among six contenders for a six-year term. A Rogers victory would shift the seat from Democrats to Republicans.
In a Nov. 1 statement, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said the party was “fully behind Abdul El-Sayed” and criticized Stevens for appearing with Rogers. First Vice Chair Portia Roberson said Democratic voters had made their choice in the primary.
Stevens announced her endorsement of Rogers on Nov. 1 after joining him at a Detroit church service, the Associated Press reported. She had supported El-Sayed after he defeated her in the August Democratic primary.
The Associated Press reported that friction between the two Democrats had persisted since that contest. A Rebellion PAC ad deepened the dispute by making an unverified claim connecting U.S. support for Israel with grocery prices. Stevens urged El-Sayed to condemn the ad. He said his campaign had no role in producing it and that he disagreed with its contents.
Stevens said she had been told to stay away from El-Sayed’s campaign. Rep. Debbie Dingell told the Associated Press that she asked Stevens to miss a planned joint appearance because the disagreement had become a distraction.
The race has also drawn an attack from President Donald Trump. At an Oct. 25 Michigan rally, Trump used the term “jihadist” for El-Sayed and asserted that he belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood. PolitiFact found the membership claim false.
Michigan voters will choose Peters’ successor on Nov. 3.
