Haley Stevens appears with Republican Mike Rogers as Michigan Democrats' unity push falters

A joint appearance falls apart

Michigan Democrats had planned a church service in Detroit on 1 November to show a united front behind Abdul El-Sayed, the party's Senate nominee in a race that could decide control of the chamber. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina was to attend alongside El-Sayed and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, who lost the August primary to El-Sayed by less than a percentage point. The plans unraveled after a dispute over Israel and an outside group's advertisement turned into public criticism between the two Democrats. Debbie Dingell, the Michigan congresswoman who helped organize the event, said she asked Stevens not to attend, and that Stevens had agreed to abide by the request. Dingell described her decision in a telephone interview:

“I'm the one who pulled it because it had become way too distracting”

Stevens stands with the Republican nominee

On 1 November, Stevens attended a service at Perfecting Church in Detroit alongside Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate nominee and a former congressman. Rogers' campaign confirmed the appearance, and a spokeswoman for his campaign posted a photo of the two standing side by side. Stevens was recorded hugging Rogers as she walked in, and she and her fiancé were photographed seated beside Rogers and his wife. Before the service, a video posted by Sam Robinson of the Michigan Chronicle showed Stevens saying she backed investment in Black-owned businesses, a policy she said Rogers would take on. It was not immediately clear whether she was switching her support in the Senate race, though she had previously endorsed El-Sayed and said she wanted a Democratic victory. Her team did not respond to repeated requests for comment on whether she would attend the service.

An ad, an apology and a split over Israel

Tensions rose last week over an advertisement from Rebellion PAC, a liberal outside group, that blames Israel for high U.S. grocery prices. Stevens argued the ad amounted to fear-mongering about Israel and demanded that El-Sayed denounce it. El-Sayed's campaign said he had no role in the ad, and he criticized its contents on 31 October. Stevens' fiancé, Jason Turkish, said last week that he would vote for Rogers because of the ad. On Thursday, 29 October, Stevens said she planned to campaign with El-Sayed that weekend, but on Friday, 30 October, she issued a statement demanding an apology for his comments criticizing Israel. Late on 31 October she released another statement saying she was glad El-Sayed disagreed with the ad's content, and she wrote:

“Whenever anyone tries to set us against each other, we have an obligation to stand up and fight back”

The feud pits a progressive and forceful critic of Israel against a centrist who supports Israel.

What is at stake before 3 November

Early voting has been under way since 24 October, before the latest tensions erupted. El-Sayed, a former Michigan public health official, is in a close contest with Mike Rogers, a former congressman, for the seat held by Democrat Gary Peters, who is stepping away from it. If elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim senator. Holding the seat matters for the party's attempt to secure a Senate majority in the closing stretch of Donald Trump's second term. The party is also working to mobilize Black and Jewish voters in crucial areas, where Detroit's turnout could prove decisive. Dingell and other Democrats insist the party is united behind El-Sayed, although the renewed bickering complicates a unified closing message.