Michigan Senate race roiled as Democrat Haley Stevens appears with Mike Rogers
Democratic infighting in Michigan's crucial Senate race spilled into public view after Rep. Haley Stevens appeared at a Detroit church alongside Republican Mike Rogers.
At a glance
- Rep. Haley Stevens appeared at a Detroit church service alongside Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers.
- The appearance followed Stevens being disinvited from a joint church event with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed after a dispute over Israel and campaign ads.
- Rep. Debbie Dingell stated she asked Stevens to stay away from the planned Democratic event to avoid distracting the congregation.
- The intraparty friction comes days before an election that could determine control of the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Representative Haley Stevens found herself standing near Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers inside a Detroit church on Sunday, creating an unexpected visual in the final days of a tense Michigan Senate contest.
The encounter occurred after Stevens was uninvited from a scheduled event with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated her in the August primary. The exclusion followed a public disagreement over an outside political advertisement and U.S. policy regarding Israel.
What sparked the rift
The friction intensified after Stevens urged El-Sayed to denounce an outside group's television advertisement that linked American assistance for Israel to rising grocery expenses, which Stevens labeled antisemitic.
El-Sayed stated that his campaign did not create the commercial and that he rejected its message. Even so, El-Sayed's team requested that Stevens avoid their remaining campaign events.
Representative Debbie Dingell, who worked to arrange a joint appearance to project party unity, explained that she asked Stevens to skip the service after the dispute upset the church leadership. Dingell noted that Mike Rogers likely welcomed the distraction.
Broader stakes in the Senate contest
The public disagreement highlights deep divisions within the Democratic party in a closely watched race that could decide the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. El-Sayed is running against Rogers for the seat currently held by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters. Maintaining the seat is vital for Democrats aiming for a chamber majority during President Donald Trump's second term. With early voting already underway, both campaigns are racing to secure turnout among key voter blocks in Wayne and Oakland counties.
What to watch: Watch for voter turnout numbers in Wayne and Oakland counties as voters head to the polls on Tuesday.
Reporting from: Fox News, ABC News, ABC News, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, BBC News, Fox News, CBS News. Spotted an error? Tell us.
- Haley Stevens
- Mike Rogers
- Abdul El-Sayed
- Debbie Dingell
- Michigan Senate Race
- United States
- Politics