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Midterm Updates: El-Sayed campaign clashes with Stevens
· Confirmed
In Short: El-Sayed's campaign has distanced itself from an outside ad that Stevens criticized, stating they have no affiliation with it.
Stevens called on El-Sayed to condemn an outside group's ad linking US military aid to Israel with rising grocery prices, which she characterized as antisemitic.
In a CNN interview, Stevens reaffirmed her support for El-Sayed, despite her fiancé, Jason Turkish, publicly announcing his intention to vote for Rogers, the Republican candidate.
Stevens' campaign spokesperson told the BBC that the congresswoman would fight for all Michiganders, emphasizing her commitment to lowering costs, protecting manufacturing jobs, and taking on Donald Trump's corruption.
Stevens urged El-Sayed to apologize for previous remarks she said linked US support for Israel to Michigan's affordability challenges and to remove a campaign ad featuring conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.
Stevens outperformed El-Sayed in Wayne County, winning about 51% of the Democratic primary vote compared with 45% for El-Sayed, according to reports from Nypost and PBS.
El-Sayed defeated Stevens by less than a percentage point in a primary that became a national test of the Democratic Party’s ideological direction.
Stevens was backed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, highlighting the establishment's support for her.
Stevens accused El-Sayed of trying to relitigate a primary that ended three months ago, rather than focus on defeating Rogers, whom El-Sayed routinely calls “Trump’s hand-picked candidate.”
Background
El-Sayed's campaign performed well among traditionally progressive groups, including younger voters and those with college educations, but faced skepticism from Jewish voters.
What's confirmed
- Obama taped two dozen ads last week for Democratic candidates for governor and Senate that will be released in the coming days and weeks, in addition to more campaign stops soon to be announced.
- Some ads that supported Stevens showed Obama praising her, and she outperformed El-Sayed in Wayne County, winning about 51% of the Democratic primary vote compared with 45% for El-Sayed.
- Haley Stevens in an August primary and has since worked to consolidate Democratic support in his race against Republican Mike Rogers.
- Former President Barack Obama will campaign alongside Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit later this month, lending his support to the progressive nominee after a bruising Democratic primary exposed divisions within the party.
- El-Sayed defeated Stevens by less than a percentage point in a primary that became a national test of the Democratic Party’s ideological direction.
- He appeared earlier this year in a campaign ad with Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek and campaigned in Texas with Senate candidate James Talarico and the candidate for governor, Gina Hinojosa.
- Kamala Harris, the first black and South Asian person to serve as vice president, campaigned with El-Sayed last month.
What's still developing
- Closing out his multi-state campaign swing, Cruz urged conservative, independent, and libertarian voters to get to the polls immediately to avert a Democratic legislative sweep.
- According to her campaign, the spot contrasts Hinojosa's proposals to protect public schools, restrict data center expansion and lower taxes with what she argues is three-term Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's prioritization of wealthy donors and large corporations.
- "We knew that this was going to be a close race, and that's exactly what we've got," Stevens said.
- After a bruising and sometimes bitter campaign, left-wing insurgent Abdul El-Sayed is slightly ahead of the establishment-backed congresswoman, Haley Stevens, with more than 90% of the votes counted.
- Nicki Minaj joined President Donald Trump in Michigan on Sunday for a midterm rally, stepping off Air Force One at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in head-to-toe Gucci.
- The high-stakes midterm elections are less than a week away, and candidates are making their final pitches to voters.
- The Times report said it relied on 12 sources, text messages and documents that allegedly showed members of Peltola's campaign, lawyers for Peltola, and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) pushing to find a spoiler candidate who could potentially siphon votes from Sen. Sullivan and benefit Peltola.
- "The media freakout over President Trump’s comments is not rooted in reality," White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote in a statement on X in response to the backlash.
- Rapper Nicki Minaj praised President Donald Trump during a flight aboard Air Force One on Sunday, as the pair traveled to Michigan for a rally ahead of the November midterm elections.
- Democratic candidate for US Senate Abdul El-Sayed speaks to attendees at the Carpenters & Millwrights Labor Center during a campaign stop in Warren, Michigan, US, October 3, 2026.
- Obama is upping involvement in the midterm election.
- "are scared to call the police in case of an emergency."