Sayed Campaign Doesn’t Want Haley Stevens at Events as Michigan Senate Race Nears Election Day

Joint appearance gives way to dispute

El-Sayed and Stevens had been scheduled to appear together this weekend, their first shared campaign event since August. Instead, a Democratic source familiar with the matter told MS NOW on Saturday that El-Sayed’s campaign had asked Stevens to avoid its events in the final days of the race.

The source spoke anonymously, saying they were not authorized to disclose the information. Politico first reported the renewed public friction between the two Democrats. Their relationship had appeared close to improving before the latest dispute.

Stevens challenges ad and remarks

On Friday, Stevens called for El-Sayed to apologize for criticizing Israel and to condemn an ad by Rebellion PAC, an outside political action committee. El-Sayed’s campaign had previously said the ad had no connection to him or his candidacy.

The ad criticizes Rogers for supporting Israel and links U.S. aid to Israel with higher grocery costs. Stevens said it wrongly blamed Israel for what Michigan families cannot afford, and described its message about Palestinians as unacceptable.

Rogers offers Stevens an invitation

Rogers, the Republican Senate nominee, used the Democratic dispute to suggest Stevens campaign alongside him. Speaking to MS NOW on Saturday, he said she would be welcome at one of his events if she wanted to join.

Stevens, who backed El-Sayed after losing the Democratic primary, had also discussed their political differences in a CNN interview on Wednesday. She said she and her fiancé were a “household divided” after he said he planned to vote for Rogers.

Church invitation remains open

Stevens said she would attend a Sunday church service with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, if El-Sayed apologized. She argued he could start by not blaming Israel for the state’s affordability problems.

Clyburn adviser Antjuan Seawright told MS NOW that the church invitation remained open to both candidates. He indicated that the invitation was distinct from El-Sayed’s campaign asking Stevens to stay away from campaign events.

Caitlin Legacki, a former consultant to Stevens’ unsuccessful Senate primary campaign, also criticized Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, in a social media post. Legacki said he was damaging Stevens’ future and described it as sad to watch her take part.