Inside Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens Meltdown Before Election Day

Stevens backs Rogers

Stevens announced her endorsement in a video posted to social media on Sunday. She said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign and should stay away.

The endorsement came after Stevens appeared with Rogers at a Detroit church. It marked a sharp change from her earlier statements that she intended to support the Democratic nominee.

Dispute over campaign rhetoric

Piker had implied that Jews’ support for Israel put them at risk of personal violence. El-Sayed distanced himself from that controversy, saying Piker did not speak for the campaign, but did not disavow him.

A planned joint appearance ends

Stevens had been scheduled to join El-Sayed and Rep. James Clyburn at a Detroit church event intended to unite Democrats before the election. She made her participation conditional on El-Sayed rejecting the ad and apologizing, and the event went ahead without her.

El-Sayed looks to voters

At a separate “Souls to the Polls” event in Detroit, El-Sayed told reporters that he did not think about Stevens and that voters did not either. He redirected attention to families’ concerns about schools, food and medical bills.

Stevens’ endorsement sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party, according to the report. The announcement came less than 48 hours before Election Day.