Haley Stevens Backs Abdul El-Sayed Despite Fiancé's Rogers Endorsement

In Michigan's fiercely contested U.S. Senate race, former Democratic Senate candidate Haley Stevens announced her intention to vote for the party's nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, despite her fiancé's endorsement of the Republican contender, Mike Rogers. Stevens appeared on CNN, acknowledging the division within her own household, expressing her desire for El-Sayed to secure the Democratic nomination due to the significant stakes at play.

Stevens reiterated her support for El-Sayed, emphasizing her commitment to seeing Democrats win and highlighting concerns over El-Sayed's recent rhetoric. Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, a civil rights attorney, defended his choice to back Rogers, citing his apprehensions about El-Sayed's remarks regarding genocide in Gaza and potential safety threats.

El-Sayed, in response, maintained that the election is primarily about winning control of the Senate and opposing President Donald Trump. He challenged those who disagreed with him on certain issues to prioritize their concerns over any differences. Stevens also encouraged El-Sayed to disavow a grocery store ad endorsing his campaign, which has been accused of promoting anti-Semitic sentiments.

El-Sayed refuted these claims, stating that the ad is not associated with his campaign. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz campaigned with Rogers in Michigan, urging voters to support the Republican nominee while criticizing El-Sayed. Cruz's campaign claimed that Michigan should not fall under "communist" influence with alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Michigan Senate race, expected to be one of the most critical contests in the 2026 midterm elections, has been deemed a toss-up by various polling sources. Recent polls show El-Sayed slightly ahead of Rogers, with a margin ranging from 2.8 to 7 percentage points, depending on the survey.