El-Sayed makes final Senate push after Stevens backs Rogers

Abdul El-Sayed spent November 2 making a final appeal to Michigan voters, as Democrats tried to move past a surprise endorsement by Rep. Haley Stevens, his former primary opponent. Stevens appeared with Republican Mike Rogers at a church on Sunday and backed his Senate campaign, prompting the Michigan Democratic Party to expel her.

At a rally at Eastern Michigan University, El-Sayed focused on voter turnout rather than the controversy. Asked what he would tell supporters worried about the endorsement, he urged them to vote. Later, he joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, fellow Democrats and Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield at a rally in the city.

El-Sayed’s campaign said it raised $2.4 million on Sunday, its biggest fundraising day of the race. The state party also said more people had volunteered to canvass. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said he expected the endorsement to energize Democrats rather than change the result.

The defection reopened tensions from a bruising primary, which El-Sayed won by about 14,000 votes. The campaign had featured disputes over Israel and the war in Gaza, as well as criticism of El-Sayed’s remarks after a synagogue attack and his appearance with streamer Hasan Piker. El-Sayed later apologized for the remarks and did not appear with Piker again.

More than 2.3 million Michigan voters had already cast ballots by November 2. Polls were set to reopen statewide on November 3, when voters will choose between El-Sayed and Rogers to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters. El-Sayed highlighted health care access, taxes for working families and reducing money’s influence in politics.

Stevens’ defection fuels Democrats’ final Michigan turnout drive

Michigan Democrats spent November 2 turning a jolting break in their ranks into a last-minute call for voters to rally behind Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Rep. Haley Stevens, whom El-Sayed defeated in the primary, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday and was expelled from the state party.

El-Sayed urged supporters at Eastern Michigan University to focus on voting, then joined Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats at a Detroit rally. Warren told the crowd Michigan could be pivotal, while El-Sayed stressed health care access, relief for working families and limiting the power of money in politics.

The campaign said it raised $2.4 million on Sunday, its largest haul of the race, and the state party described a surge in volunteers. Party chair Curtis Hertel said the endorsement would galvanize Democrats. Local organizers also described anger at Stevens and an increase in people seeking canvassing shifts.

The dispute comes after a primary shaped in part by disagreements over Israel and Gaza. El-Sayed has faced criticism over comments following a synagogue attack and a campaign appearance with Hasan Piker; he later apologized for the comments and did not appear with Piker again. Stevens and some Jewish leaders said their concerns remained unresolved.

More than 2.3 million Michigan voters had cast ballots by November 2, with polls due to reopen statewide on November 3. Democrats’ closing message was that voters, not a prominent defection, would decide whether El-Sayed succeeds retiring Sen. Gary Peters.

Democrats face a divided finish after Stevens backs Rogers

Michigan’s Senate race reached its final day with Democrats trying to contain the fallout from Rep. Haley Stevens’ decision to endorse Republican Mike Rogers. Stevens had lost the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed by about 14,000 votes; after her Sunday appearance with Rogers, the state party expelled her.

El-Sayed campaigned at Eastern Michigan University and later rallied supporters in Detroit with Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats. He urged voters to turn out and promoted expanded health care access, lower taxes for working-class families and limits on money’s influence in politics.

The upheaval reflects tensions that persisted after a bitter primary, including disputes over Israel and the war in Gaza. El-Sayed has been criticized for remarks following a synagogue attack and for appearing with Hasan Piker. He apologized for the remarks and did not appear with Piker again, while Stevens and some Jewish leaders maintained that their concerns had not been addressed.

El-Sayed’s campaign said it raised $2.4 million on Sunday, its largest fundraising day, and Democrats said volunteer activity increased. More than 2.3 million voters had already cast ballots by November 2. Polls were set to reopen statewide on November 3, when voters would decide whether El-Sayed or Rogers succeeds retiring Sen. Gary Peters.