El-Sayed faces internal party friction in final week of Michigan Senate race

With less than a week until Election Day, the Democratic nominee for the Michigan Senate seat is still not fully embraced by his own party. Abdul El-Sayed is trying to win the race against Republican Mike Rogers, but internal friction within the Democratic base remains a visible obstacle.

The party entered the general election fractured after a contentious primary. El-Sayed won the nomination, but the process left leaders at odds. Instead of focusing exclusively on uniting the traditional coalition, El-Sayed has sought to expand the electorate by targeting college students and rural residents. That strategy has not silenced the critics.

Tensions resurfaced on Wednesday when Jason Turkish, the fiancé of El-Sayed’s former primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, told The Detroit News that he would vote for Rogers. Stevens appeared on CNN hours later to state she would vote for El-Sayed. She urged the campaign to “shut out the hate and call it out.” Stevens asked the team to make members of her coalition feel comfortable coming to the polls. She drew strong support from Jewish and Black voters during the primary.

Concerns in Michigan’s Jewish community have persisted for months. Critics point to El-Sayed’s criticism of Israel, his past remarks, and his association with streamer Hasan Piker. The latest flashpoint is an ad from Rebellion PAC, an independent left-wing group. The ad linked U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices. El-Sayed said the ad “has nothing to do with our campaign.” He added, “It’s certainly not what I want to be talking about right now.” Stevens and other Democrats argued he needed to denounce the content more firmly.

Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield called a press conference to address both the Rebellion PAC ad and El-Sayed’s campaign ad. Starr said, “We are one week away from the election, and it feels like the temperature has turned way up.” He noted that conditions have worsened over the last seven weeks rather than improved.

The Republican side faces its own challenges. Rogers has stayed closely aligned with President Donald Trump on most issues. He appeared with the president at a rally in Port Huron on Sunday. Trump credited Rogers with bringing manufacturing jobs back to the state. Port Huron sits across the river from Canada, a country Trump has targeted with tariffs. Rogers also appeared with Sen. Ted Cruz at an event hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition in Birmingham. Cruz called antisemitism “a poison that is ripping the country apart.” He accused Democrats of being taken over by “self-proclaimed communists and Islamists.” Trump has attacked El-Sayed’s Muslim faith, calling him a “jihadist” and saying he was “on the side of terrorists.”

El-Sayed has tried to bridge gaps with conservative voters. His team released an ad featuring clips of prominent conservatives, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, praising him. Carlson has faced accusations of antisemitism, which he denies. The ad created additional friction with some Jewish voters. El-Sayed has also held events in heavily Republican areas, including Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Both candidates are making a final push for Black voters, particularly in Wayne County. El-Sayed will campaign in the Detroit area on Sunday with Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. His recent events in Detroit aim to increase turnout. Rogers has also sought inroads with Black voters. He visited a reading remediation program at a Detroit high school and discussed housing costs in Pontiac. Earlier this month, his wife handed out $10 gift cards at a gas station.

Ruby Farmer, a 68-year-old Detroit retiree, criticized the gift card gesture. “You’re giving out gas cards in the inner city, you never would come for any other reason,” Farmer said. She cast her ballot for El-Sayed three weeks ago. She said his opposition to Trump’s policies directly impacts her family. “I have a special-needs son,” Farmer said. “He depends on Medicaid. Medicaid has been cut, and for home care workers in Michigan all the benefits are on hold.”