Key facts
- El-Sayed's campaign asked Stevens to stay away from events to avoid distracting from campaign issues.
- Stevens demanded El-Sayed apologize for comments linking Israel to Michigan's economic problems.
- Stevens urged El-Sayed to condemn an ad she described as antisemitic.
- Stevens also called on El-Sayed to remove an ad featuring Tucker Carlson.
- Stevens stated she still planned to attend a joint campaign event with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn.
Michigan's Democratic coalition is showing signs of fragmentation days before a critical Senate election, with former primary rivals Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens engaging in public spats. El-Sayed's campaign has requested Stevens stay away from future events to prevent distractions, according to people familiar with the decision. This comes after a day of increasingly pointed statements from both sides, frustrating Democrats concerned about unity in a pivotal state. Stevens had demanded El-Sayed apologize for comments linking U.S. aid to Israel with Michigan's economic woes and called on him to condemn an ad she deemed antisemitic. El-Sayed's campaign has denied affiliation with the ad and stated no one speaks for him but himself. Stevens also urged El-Sayed to remove an ad featuring Tucker Carlson. Despite the friction, Stevens indicated she still planned to attend a joint campaign event with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn.