Stevens backs rival Rogers as Michigan Democrats face internal split

Haley Stevens appeared alongside Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers at a Detroit church service on Sunday, a move that signaled a break from her former primary rival Abdul El-Sayed days before the election.

The public display of support came after Stevens was not invited to a joint event with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. The planned gathering was intended to unify the Democratic base in Wayne and Oakland counties, two areas where Stevens defeated El-Sayed in the August primary.

Tensions escalated earlier in the week when Stevens' fiancé told The Detroit News he would vote for Rogers. He argued that El-Sayed had not done enough to address the concerns of the Jewish community. Stevens subsequently issued a statement criticizing El-Sayed's remarks on Israel.

"Abdul promises to eliminate the influence of money in politics," Stevens wrote in a Friday communication. "He can start by excluding Israel from his explanation of everything Michigan can't afford."

Dingell, the Michigan congresswoman who organized the joint appearance, said she asked Stevens to stay away because the dispute had become distracting. "I pulled it because it had become too distracting," Dingell said in a phone interview. "To be honest, I didn't think I would spend the weekend before the election like this."

El-Sayed held a separate religious service with a group of prominent Democrats. According to campaign statements, attendees included Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, and Secretary of State candidate Garlin Gilchrist II. El-Sayed responded to the news cycle by saying the party should focus on the work at hand while Stevens seemed intent on reopening the primary debate.

Stevens' team did not immediately respond to requests for comment about whether she would attend the service. In a Saturday night statement, she expressed satisfaction that El-Sayed disagreed with the content of an outside advertisement linking U.S. support for Israel to high food prices. She urged the campaign to fight back when opponents attempt to divide them.

Early voting began on Oct. 24, prior to the latest flare-up in internal disputes. Democrats are working to mobilize Black and Jewish voters in key Detroit neighborhoods. The outcome in Michigan is vital for the party's control of the Senate during the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term.