Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed responded Wednesday to news that Jason Turkish, the fiancé of his former primary opponent Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers. El-Sayed stated he is focused on building a "big tent" movement to address challenges posed by Donald Trump, while Turkish accused El-Sayed of using antisemitic language and acting recklessly toward Jewish community safety.
The endorsement follows a narrow August primary victory for El-Sayed over Stevens. While Stevens publicly backed El-Sayed after the primary, the two have not spoken or campaigned together in several months. Stevens confirmed Wednesday she still plans to vote for El-Sayed but acknowledged their household is divided, calling on the El-Sayed campaign to "shut out the hate."
The Michigan Senate race seeks to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.). In addition to Turkish, David Kramer, a prominent Democratic fundraiser who chaired Stevens’s primary campaign, announced Tuesday he would vote for Rogers. Kramer cited Rogers’s commitment to Jewish safety as the reason for his decision despite policy disagreements with the Republican.
El-Sayed, who is running on a platform that includes Medicare for All and removing money from politics, has dismissed allegations of extremist links as Islamophobic. Meanwhile, Rogers has appealed to "Haley Stevens Democrats," specifically targeting Black and Jewish voters who supported Stevens during the primary contest.
For voters, the divide within the Democratic party highlights differing priorities between the progressive and moderate wings. A person in Michigan would notice this through targeted campaign ads, such as a recent outside group's ad linking Israel aid to high domestic prices—a message Stevens urged El-Sayed to denounce. Voters in Oakland County, where Stevens defeated El-Sayed by seven points in the primary, will see both candidates focusing heavily on their region in the final days of the campaign.
The next significant milestone is Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Until then, the Michigan Democratic Party continues its "One Michigan" coordinated campaign to encourage straight-ticket voting. The final results will determine if Michigan sends its first Muslim senator to Washington or if Republicans flip a seat they have not held in over 30 years.