Michigan Senate race faces final week with internal Democratic strife

Voters in Michigan face a final week of campaigning in a contested Senate race where Democratic unity remains a central issue.

The race pits Democrat Abdul El-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers. With less than a week until Election Day, the outcome hinges on whether voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party will outweigh ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party.

Tensions escalated on Wednesday when Jason Turkish, the fiancé of former primary opponent Rep. Haley Stevens, told The Detroit News he would support Rogers. Stevens appeared on CNN later that day to confirm her vote for El-Sayed. She urged the campaign to address internal friction directly. "Make people who are in my coalition, right, make them feel comfortable about coming to the polls," Stevens said.

The current dispute centers on an ad released by Rebellion PAC, an independent left-wing group. The spot links U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices. El-Sayed stated the advertisement has nothing to do with his campaign and is not the focus he wants to maintain. Jewish community leaders, including Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, criticized both the Rebellion PAC ad and El-Sayed’s campaign strategy. Starr noted that the political temperature has risen sharply in the final days.

El-Sayed has attempted to broaden his base by targeting college students and rural residents. His campaign recently released an ad featuring clips of conservative figures praising him, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Carlson has denied accusations of antisemitism. This outreach has drawn criticism from some Jewish voters who feel El-Sayed has not done enough to address their concerns regarding his past remarks and associations.

Rogers has stayed closely aligned with President Trump on major issues. The two appeared together at a rally in Michigan on Sunday. Rogers credited Trump with bringing manufacturing jobs back to the state. Republicans are working to counter voter dissatisfaction with the administration and the Iran war by focusing on economic costs.

El-Sayed has held campaign events in heavily Republican areas, including Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, to capitalize on frustration with the GOP. The final stretch of the campaign will test whether these outreach efforts can stabilize the Democratic coalition before voters head to the polls.