El-Sayed Campaign Raises $2.4 Million After Stevens Endorses Rogers

Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate campaign raised more than $2.4 million on Sunday, the same day former primary rival Haley Stevens endorsed Republican opponent Mike Rogers. The simultaneous events have intensified internal conflict within the state’s Democratic leadership as the general election approaches next week.

Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the Democratic primary, had planned to appear with him at a joint event on Sunday morning. Tensions escalated on Friday when Stevens demanded that El-Sayed apologize for past comments regarding U.S. aid to Israel and condemn an advertisement from an outside political action committee. Stevens described the ad as antisemitic, while El-Sayed’s campaign stated it had no affiliation with the group that produced it.

Following Stevens’ demands, El-Sayed issued a statement saying she appeared intent on relitigating a primary that concluded three months prior. He subsequently withdrew from the scheduled Sunday event. Stevens instead attended a church service with Rogers on Sunday morning before formally announcing her support for the Republican candidate.

Rep. Debbie Dingell, a senior member of Michigan’s congressional delegation, characterized the endorsement as a galvanizing force for Democratic voters. She noted that Black pastors contacted her to express anger over Stevens’ move, asking who believed Stevens still represented their community. Dingell told NPR that she had advised Stevens to skip the unity event, describing the situation as a distraction.

Stevens told reporters that she initially supported her party but was booed off the stage at a previous event. Dingell said she is tired of the drama and worried for her colleague, though she cautioned the caucus against making further noise. She emphasized that the immediate goal is to win the election tomorrow.

The fundraising surge follows a period of strained relations between the two candidates. Although Stevens endorsed El-Sayed after he secured the nomination, the pair rarely campaigned together. The current dispute has drawn attention to divergent views on party strategy and candidate unity in a competitive race.