USAupdated 2h ago2 min read
MapAbdul El-Sayed Tells Haley Stevens To Stay Away From Detroit Unity Event
“An advisory for the gathering that the El-Sayed campaign sent Saturday did not list Stevens as a participant”
“El-Sayed’s campaign telling Stevens to stay away in the waning days of the state’s pivotal race”
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
El-Sayed asked Stevens to stay away from campaign events amid feud over Israel remarks. Stevens planned to join Detroit event but was advised not to attend.
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Unity event in Detroit
Abdul El-Sayed told reporters, “I don’t want any distractions,” as his campaign pushed for Representative Haley Stevens to stay away from a Sunday party unity event in Detroit.
“‘I don’t want any distractions,’ Dr. El-Sayed said Saturday.”
The New York Times said the Sunday event was part of an effort by Representatives Debbie Dingell of Michigan and James E. Clyburn of South Carolina to broker a peace between the two Democrats.
Debbie Dingell told Stevens, “This isn’t working,” and added that the tensions between the two were a distraction and that “there’s nothing to be gained by the two of them being in the same place.”
It was unclear if Stevens would abide by El-Sayed’s request that she stay away, after the two were initially expected to attend together.
Democrats across the country were anxiously wondering if the bickering between Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Ms. Stevens might sink his chances in a race that could determine control of the Senate.
Israel ads and rift
Haley Stevens said in a statement that she expected El-Sayed to apologize for remarks tied to an outside group’s advertisement, and she said, “Abdul promises to get money out of politics. He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford.”
El-Sayed responded in a statement by saying Stevens “seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago,” and he added, “Let’s all focus on the task at hand: that’s beating Mike Rogers, holding Trump accountable, and getting money out of politics.”
President Donald Trump gave Stevens “credit” and amplified attacks against El-Sayed, saying, “You got to give her credit.”
Trump repeated baseless claims that El-Sayed is a “jihadist” who “hates Black people, hates Jewish people, and, I think probably hates all people.”
Detroit Free Press said the rift included Stevens being disinvited from campaign events after she tried to force El-Sayed to denounce certain ads and retract some of his own campaign claims with less than a week to go.
Election stakes and fallout
The rupture between progressive El-Sayed and the more moderate Stevens, whom he defeated in a bitter primary, has cast Democratic tensions into the spotlight in one of the most consequential elections in the party’s campaign to retake control of the Senate.
“People are not talking about ads. They are not talking about Haley Stevens.”
Republican candidates in five states got a virtual boost with President Donald Trump’s telerally appearances, and Trump previewed upcoming rallies including in Iowa and Kansas tomorrow.
The outcome of the Michigan Senate race on Nov. 3 could determine control of the Senate, while it also described the rift as a factor that could affect the outcome.
El-Sayed accused Stevens of trying to relitigate their race, and it quoted Mallory McMorrow saying, “I have no idea what the hell Haley Stevens is doing,” and “This is a moment where we have to recognize the stakes.”
Mallory McMorrow said, “People are not talking about ads. They are not talking about Haley Stevens. They are talking about the price of gas and groceries.”