Turmoil in Michigan Senate Race: Democrat Haley Stevens Appears With Republican Mike Rogers

Separate church appearances

Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the August Democratic primary, attended a Detroit church service with Rogers on Sunday. The Republican is challenging El-Sayed for the seat held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters.

El-Sayed attended another church service with Michigan and national Democrats. Party figures said they wanted to show support for the nominee, but public disagreement between the former rivals drew attention away from that effort.

Planned event falls apart

Stevens had been expected to appear with El-Sayed and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn at a church gathering. The plan collapsed after arguments involving Israel and an outside campaign advertisement became public.

Debbie Dingell, who organized the event, said she asked Stevens not to attend because the dispute was distracting. Dingell also said the bishop was upset because the gathering was a church service.

Dispute shadows final days

Stevens later welcomed El-Sayed’s criticism of the outside advertisement. The ad accused him of disrespecting women, and El-Sayed objected to it. The campaign featured tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, including support for Stevens from an affiliated super PAC of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Turnout and Senate stakes

Democrats are seeking votes from Black and Jewish communities as they try to keep Michigan in the party’s column. Wayne County, which includes Detroit, and neighboring Oakland County are especially important; Stevens carried both in the primary.

Early voting began Oct. 24, before the latest public friction. Dingell said the focus should be on issues facing voters, while noting that Rogers benefited from the attention on the Democratic dispute. El-Sayed, if elected, would be the country’s first Muslim senator.