Michigan Democrats’ unity push falters as Stevens is asked to skip event with El-Sayed

DETROIT (AP) — Michigan Democrats are heading to church in Detroit on Sunday in an attempt to present a united front behind Abdul El-Sayed in a race that could decide control of the U.S. Senate. But one prominent Democrat is expected to be missing from the pews.

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, who lost in the primary to El-Sayed, was initially set to join the nominee and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina at a church event. Those plans unraveled after a dispute over Israel and an outside group’s campaign advertisement escalated into a public exchange of criticism between the rivals.

Debbie Dingell, the Michigan congresswoman who helped organize the planned joint appearance in hopes of bringing together Democrats in the final days before Tuesday’s vote, said she asked Stevens not to attend and that Stevens told her she would abide by that.

“I’m the one who pulled it because it had become way too distracting,” Dingell said a telephone interview. “This is not how I was going to spend my weekend before the election, to be perfectly frank.”

“The bishop was getting upset, because this is a real church service,” Dingell added.

The latest and late-stage infighting comes as Democrats look to drive turnout among Black and Jewish voters in key strongholds. El-Sayed, a former Michigan public health official, is in a tight race with Republican Mike Rogers, an ex-congressman, for the seat held by Democrat Gary Peters, who is retiring. Keeping Michigan in Democratic hands is vital to the party’s effort to win a majority for the final two years of Republican President Donald Trump’s second term.

Stevens and her team have not responded to repeated requests for comment about whether she would attend the service. Late Saturday night, she released a statement saying she was glad to see El-Sayed disagree with the content of the outside ad.

“Whenever anyone tries to set us against each other, we have an obligation to stand up and fight back,” Stevens wrote in a statement that ended with: “Go vote!”

Dingell and other Democrats insist the party is united behind El-Sayed, who would be the country’s first Muslim senator if elected. Early voting has been underway since Oct. 24, before the latest tensions erupted. But the renewed bickering has complicated Democrats’ efforts to deliver a unified closing message in crucial areas such as Detroit, where turnout could prove decisive.

“All you guys want to talk about was Abdul and Haley and it really needs to be about what the issues are that people should be voting about on Tuesday,” Dingell said. She added about El-Sayed’s Republican opponent: “Mike Rogers loved every minute of it.”

The tensions carry particular significance in Wayne County, which includes Detroit, and neighboring Oakland County. Stevens defeated El-Sayed in both counties in the August primary, drawing support from Black and Jewish voters who are important parts of the Democratic coalition.

How did we get here?

The Democratic primary was among the most bitter this year. Each candidate accused the other of making personal attacks. Tens of millions of dollars in outside spending poured into the race, including from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s affiliated super PAC, which backed Stevens. El-Sayed took particular offense to an outside group’s ad accusing him of disrespecting women.

Although Stevens pledged after the primary to help El-Sayed however she could, the two have not appeared together publicly since a unity breakfast two days after his summer win.

Their lack of joint appearances was particularly notable as some Jewish voters and leaders continued to criticize El-Sayed over his comments about Israel, past rhetoric and campaign appearances with controversial streamer Hasan Piker.

The divisions spilled into public view again Wednesday when Stevens’ fiancé told The Detroit News that he would vote for Rogers. Hours later, Stevens appeared on CNN to reaffirm her support for El-Sayed but urged his campaign to “shut out the hate and call it out.”

Dingell had been working to bring them together at church alongside Clyburn, one of the nation’s most prominent Black Democrats.

But on Friday, after The Associated Press reported on the planned joint appearance, Stevens released a lengthy statement calling on El-Sayed to condemn an ad by an independent left-wing group that linked U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices.

“Abdul promises to get money out of politics,” Stevens wrote. “He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford.”

El-Sayed then responded: “So while Congresswoman Stevens seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago, let’s all focus on the task at hand.”

He repeated Saturday evening that the ad was not made by his campaign and “I do not agree with the contents of that ad.”

Michigan Democrats insist they are united

Despite the latest tensions, El-Sayed planned to move ahead with a series of church visits Sunday alongside Clyburn and other prominent Black Democrats.

The appearances will also include U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, Garlin Gilchrist II, the nominee for secretary of state, and several Michigan bishops, according to campaign advisories obtained by AP.

Democrats are seeking to drive turnout in Detroit, where roughly three-quarters of residents are Black and strong support is essential to Democratic success statewide.

“United we stand, divided we fall,” Dingell said.

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Cappelletti reported from Washington.