El-Sayed disinvites Stevens from Michigan Senate campaign events to avoid distractions
Democratic Senate nominee asks fellow Democrat to stay away from joint appearances amid primary tensions and dispute over Gaza-related ad.
At a glance
- Abdul El-Sayed asked Haley Stevens to stay away from his campaign events to limit distractions.
- The move follows Stevens's demand that El-Sayed denounce an outside ad linking inflation to U.S. support for Israel in Gaza.
- Democrats worry the public feud hurts their chances in a must-win Senate race against Republican Mike Rogers.
Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed has asked U.S. Representative Haley Stevens to stay away from his campaign events in Michigan's closely watched Senate race, saying he wants to avoid distractions. The two had been scheduled to appear together Sunday at a church service in Detroit.
El-Sayed defeated Stevens in a bitter primary in August. Although Stevens endorsed him afterward, she had avoided public appearances with her former opponent and recently demanded he denounce an outside group's advertisement linking higher prices to U.S. support for Israel's war in Gaza. El-Sayed responded by noting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent heavily against him in the primary.
The public feud has alarmed Democrats who view the race against Republican Mike Rogers as essential to retaking Senate control. Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow told CNN she did not understand Stevens's actions, saying voters are focused on gas and grocery prices, not primary disputes. Stevens's fiancé, Jason Turkish, has campaigned for Rogers.
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- Why did El-Sayed disinvite Stevens from campaign events?
- El-Sayed said he did not want distractions and accused Stevens of relitigating a primary that ended three months ago.
- What triggered the latest tension between El-Sayed and Stevens?
- Stevens demanded El-Sayed denounce an outside group's ad blaming higher prices on U.S. support for Israel's war in Gaza.
- How have other Democrats reacted to the feud?
- State Senator Mallory McMorrow criticized Stevens, saying voters care about gas and grocery prices, not primary disputes.
