Turkish backs Rogers as El-Sayed campaign faces internal friction in Michigan

Jason Turkish, the fiancé of former U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, told The Detroit News on Wednesday that he intends to vote for Republican Mike Rogers. The decision marks a public break in the Michigan Senate race with less than a week remaining until Election Day. Turkish, a member of the state's large Jewish community, cited lingering concerns about Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed's campaign strategy as a key factor in his choice.

Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the primary, appeared on CNN hours later to reaffirm her support for her former opponent. She urged El-Sayed's team to address the discomfort among traditional Democratic voters. “Make people who are in my coalition, right, make them feel comfortable about coming to the polls,” Stevens said. She called for the campaign to “shut out the hate and call it out” rather than just managing the narrative.

The friction has intensified over the past week due to an advertisement by Rebellion PAC, an independent left-wing group. The ad linked U.S. support for Israel to rising grocery prices. El-Sayed stated that the spot “has nothing to do with our campaign” and is not his preferred message. However, Stevens and other party members argued he should have denounced the content more forcefully instead of merely distancing himself from it.

El-Sayed has pursued a strategy to expand his base beyond the party's traditional coalition. He has targeted college students and rural residents, holding events in heavily Republican areas such as the Upper Peninsula. His campaign released an ad featuring clips of conservative figures, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, praising him. Carlson has previously been accused of antisemitism, a charge he has denied. This outreach has created new points of tension with some Jewish voters who feel the campaign has not addressed their concerns sufficiently.

Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield criticized both the Rebellion PAC ad and El-Sayed's use of Carlson 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. He noted that conditions have worsened over the last seven weeks rather than improving. The Republican candidate, Mike Rogers, has remained closely aligned with President Donald Trump. He appeared with the president at a Michigan rally on Sunday, where Trump credited Rogers with bringing manufacturing jobs back to the state.

The race now hinges on whether voter dissatisfaction with Trump, the Iran war, and high costs will outweigh the internal Democratic divisions. El-Sayed's team continues to push for new voters, while critics within the party focus on securing the loyalty of established supporters.