El-Sayed, Stevens to campaign in Detroit as Democrats seek unity in Michigan Senate race

DETROIT (AP) Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed will campaign Sunday in Detroit alongside former primary rival Rep. Haley Stevens, marking their first public appearance together in months after a week in which lingering divisions spilled into public view.

The two will be joined by South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, one of the country's most prominent Black politicians, at a get-out-the-vote event at a Detroit church, according to two people familiar with the plans who were not authorized to discuss them publicly. The event was first reported by The Associated Press.

The joint appearance their first since a Democratic unity breakfast days after the Aug. 4 primary follows weeks of Democrats struggling to unite behind El-Sayed following his razor-thin victory over Stevens. She received significant support from the Jewish and Black communities, leading to concerns about turnout in the general election.

Tensions again spilled into public view Wednesday when Stevens' fianc, Jason Turkish, told The Detroit News that he would vote for Republican Mike Rogers.

Hours later, Stevens appeared on CNN to reaffirm that she would be voting for El-Sayed, but urged his campaign to shut out the hate and call it out. She said El-Sayed needs to reach out to people who were part of her coalition and make them feel comfortable about coming to the polls.

Asked Thursday evening about the upcoming event with Stevens, El-Sayed said were always trying to unify the party and it hadnt happened sooner because of their busy schedules. El-Sayed then criticized the reporter for the question, saying nobody cares about internal party dynamics when the cost of living is so high.

While significant, the joint appearance comes just days before the election

El-Sayed and Stevens last appeared together on Aug. 6, two days after the primary. Stevens pledged to support El-Sayed, telling CBS News she would do whatever he wants me to do on the campaign trail.

But divisions from the contentious primary have persisted. Nearly $60 million was spent on advertising attacking El-Sayed, including $30 million from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. Stevens is a staunch supporter of Israel who represents a district with a large Jewish community in Detroits suburbs.

The church visit on Sunday is intended to further that elusive unity, although its impact is uncertain, given that it comes just two days before the election. Michigan early voting started Oct. 24.

Weve got a Black and Jewish coalition that came out and voted for me in droves. And I want them to come out and vote for Democrats," Stevens said to CNN on Wednesday.

El-Sayed's criticism of Israel, past remarks and his association with controversial streamer Hasan Piker have long drawn concern from some in Michigan's large Jewish community. Turkish and others have said El-Sayed hasn't done enough to address concerns ahead of the general election.

The latest controversy centered on an ad by Rebellion PAC, an independent left-wing group, that linked U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices.

That has nothing to do with our campaign, El-Sayed said of the ad. Its certainly not what I want to be talking about right now.

Stevens and other Democrats urged him to go further to denounce the content of the advertisement rather than merely distancing himself from it.

Trumps rhetoric and actions create challenges for Republicans.

Republicans face political challenges of their own, particularly voter dissatisfaction with Trump, the Iran war and high costs. Rogers has remained closely aligned with the president on most issues, appearing alongside him at a Michigan rally Sunday where he credited Trump with bringing manufacturing jobs back to the state.

The rally took place in Port Huron, just across the river from Canada, a country with deep economic ties to Michigan that Trump has targeted with tariffs.

El-Sayed has held campaign events in heavily Republican areas, including Michigans Upper Peninsula. His team also released an ad featuring clips of prominent conservative figures praising him, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has faced accusations of antisemitism that he denies.

But the ad created another source of friction with some Jewish voters.

Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield criticized both the Rebellion PAC ad and El-Sayeds campaign ad during a call with reporters.

We are one week away from the election, and it feels like the temperature has turned way up, Starr said. Instead of things getting better over the last seven weeks, theyve actually gotten worse.

Rogers, meanwhile, appeared Wednesday with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at an event hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition in Birmingham, Michigan. Cruz called antisemitism a poison that is ripping the country apart and accused Democrats of being taken over by self-proclaimed communists and Islamists.

Trump has repeatedly attacked El-Sayeds Muslim faith, calling him a jihadist and saying Sunday that he was on the side of terrorists.

Both campaigns make a final push for Black voters

Both candidates are trying to win over Black voters, particularly in Detroit's Wayne County, where Stevens defeated El-Sayed in the Democratic primary.

El-Sayed's event with Stevens and Clyburn is part of an effort to shore up support among Black voters. Much of El-Sayed's final campaign stretch has included appearances in Detroit.

Rogers has also sought to make inroads with Black voters. He visited a reading remediation program at a Detroit high school and discussed housing costs with residents in Pontiac, north of the city. Earlier this month, his wife handed out $10 gift cards at a gas station.

The gesture drew criticism from Ruby Farmer, a 68-year-old Detroit retiree.

Youre giving out gas cards in the inner city; you never would come for any other reason, Farmer said.

While Farmer has a bit of difficulty pronouncing El-Sayed's name, she cast her ballot for him three weeks ago anyway. El-Sayed has come out in opposition to policies by Trump policies Farmer says directly impact her family.

I have a special-needs son, said Farmer. He depends on Medicaid. Medicaid has been cut, and for home care workers in Michigan, all the benefits are on hold.

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Cappelletti reported from Washington. Mike Householder contributed from Kalamazoo, Michigan.Related election information Check if you're registered to vote in Michigan Find your polling location How to get an absentee ballot  View your sample ballot  More information about early voting