Stevens Joins Rogers in Detroit as Michigan Senate Race Tightens

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens is standing on a stage with Republican Mike Rogers in Detroit. She is appearing with her general election opponent after a week of public friction that has complicated the Democratic effort to win the state's open Senate seat. The two candidates met at a church service on Sunday, a venue where Democrats had planned a unity event but where Stevens had initially been invited to join Abdul El-Sayed.

The appearance comes after Stevens was excluded from a joint event with El-Sayed and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn. Tensions rose after Stevens criticized El-Sayed for his comments on Israel. Her fiancé said last week that he would vote for Rogers. Stevens stated that El-Sayed has not done enough to address the concerns of the Jewish community.

Stevens released a written statement on Friday that addressed the conflict. She wrote that El-Sayed promises to get money out of politics. She added that he can start by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford. Her team did not respond to requests for comment about her attendance at the service until late Saturday night, when she confirmed she was pleased to see El-Sayed disagree with the content of a recent advertisement.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell organized the planned joint appearance to bring Democrats together in the final days before the vote. Dingell said she asked Stevens not to attend and that Stevens agreed. Dingell told a reporter that she pulled the plug because the situation had become too distracting. She noted that the bishop of the church was getting upset because it was a real service.

El-Sayed is in a close race with Rogers for the seat previously held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters. Democrats are trying to drive turnout among Black and Jewish voters in key areas. Keeping the seat in Democratic hands is a major goal for the party as it seeks a majority in the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term.

El-Sayed responded to the dispute by saying Stevens seemed intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago. He asked the party to focus on the task at hand. He repeated on Saturday evening that the disputed ad was not made by his campaign. He said he did not agree with the contents of that ad.

The conflict has affected the campaign strategy in Wayne County and neighboring Oakland County. Stevens defeated El-Sayed in both counties during the August primary. She drew support from Black and Jewish voters who are important parts of the Democratic coalition. The primary was marked by personal attacks and tens of millions of dollars in outside spending.

Stevens had pledged to help El-Sayed after the primary. The two have not appeared together publicly since a unity breakfast two days after his summer win. Some Jewish leaders continued to criticize El-Sayed over his comments about Israel and his campaign appearances with streamer Hasan Piker.

El-Sayed moved ahead with a series of church visits on Sunday. He was joined by Clyburn, U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, and several Michigan bishops. The campaign is seeking to drive turnout in Detroit, where roughly three-quarters of residents are Black.

Dingell said the party needs to focus on the issues people should be voting about on Tuesday. She said Mike Rogers loved every minute of the infighting. She added that the Democrats are united behind El-Sayed, who would be the country's first Muslim senator if elected.