El-Sayed Bars Stevens From Michigan Senate Campaign Event

A dispute between Michigan Democrats has intensified in the final days of the 2026 midterm election, after Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed excluded Representative Haley Stevens from a planned campaign appearance in Detroit. The disagreement, centered on US support for Israel and a controversial political advertisement, has complicated Democratic efforts to unite voters behind their candidate against Republican Mike Rogers.

According to The New York Times, El-Sayed announced Saturday that Stevens should not attend a Sunday church gathering that had originally been presented as an opportunity to demonstrate party unity. The decision followed several days of public criticism between the former primary rivals.

Explaining his decision, El-Sayed said he wanted to prevent internal disagreements from overshadowing the campaign's central issues.

"I don’t want any distractions," El-Sayed told reporters after a campaign rally in Sterling Heights.

He also criticized the continued attention given to the disagreement rather than the upcoming election.

"It seems as though other folks are more interested in making this race about things that it’s not about," El-Sayed said.

The dispute intensified after Stevens demanded that El-Sayed publicly reject an advertisement produced by an outside progressive political group. The digital advertisement connected US support for Israel with rising living costs, including grocery prices.

Stevens argued that the advertisement reflected positions El-Sayed had expressed during his campaign and demanded that he address those statements directly.

"The ad did not invent its argument; it dramatized one Dr. El-Sayed has made in his own words throughout this campaign: that Israel is the reason Michigan cannot afford schools, healthcare, and child care," Stevens said in a statement.

She also called for a broader apology from the Democratic nominee over his previous remarks about Israel.

"I therefore expect him to apologize for those statements as well," Stevens said.

The advertisement was purchased by an outside progressive organization rather than El-Sayed's campaign. However, Stevens maintained that the controversy required a response from the nominee.

El-Sayed rejected the criticism and accused his former opponent of continuing a disagreement that should have ended with the August primary.

"So while Congresswoman Stevens seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago, let's all focus on the task at hand: that's beating Mike Rogers, holding Trump accountable, and getting money out of politics," El-Sayed said in a statement published on X.

The disagreement reflects broader divisions within Michigan Democrats over Israel. Stevens, a more moderate Democrat, has criticized El-Sayed's position on the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which he has described as genocide.

El-Sayed has also questioned continued US military assistance to Israel. During the Democratic primary, he criticized Stevens over financial support she received from pro-Israel lobbying groups.

The disagreement has created challenges for El-Sayed as he seeks support from Jewish voters. Rogers, a former Republican representative, has attempted to attract Democrats dissatisfied with the nominee's position on Israel.

Stevens has nevertheless indicated that she intends to vote for El-Sayed in the Senate election, although her fiancé has announced his intention to support Rogers.

The political consequences extend beyond the personal disagreement. According to The New York Times, Michigan represents a significant opportunity for Republicans to gain a Senate seat, while Democrats need to flip at least four seats and retain their existing seats to regain control of the chamber.

Both El-Sayed and Rogers campaigned in Macomb County on the final Saturday before Election Day, with their appearances taking place only a few miles apart.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump participated in six tele-rallies targeting five states: Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. He also scheduled campaign appearances in Iowa and Kansas for Sunday as Republicans sought to strengthen their position in competitive Senate races.