Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is scrambling to unite his fractured party just days before the midterm elections, as mounting criticism over a controversial pro-Palestinian advertisement and accusations of antisemitism threaten to derail his campaign against Republican Mike Rogers.
El-Sayed is expected to appear Sunday at a Detroit church alongside former primary opponent Rep. Haley Stevens and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn in a last-minute effort to shore up Democratic support.
The appearance marks the first time El-Sayed and Stevens have publicly campaigned together since August, despite her earlier promise to help him after their bitter primary battle.
But the attempted Democratic show of unity comes after a bruising week that exposed just how deep the divisions remain.
On Wednesday, Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, publicly announced that he intended to vote for Rogers, delivering an embarrassing blow to El-Sayed’s campaign.
Stevens quickly appeared on CNN to reaffirm her support for the Democratic nominee, but she made clear that El-Sayed needed to do more to address concerns within the party.
She urged his campaign to “shut out the hate and call it out.”
Stevens also called on El-Sayed to reconnect with voters who supported her during the primary and “make them feel comfortable about coming to the polls.”
The criticism follows controversy surrounding an advertisement released by Rebellion PAC, an independent left-wing political group.
The ad attempted to connect America’s financial support for Israel with rising grocery prices, drawing condemnation from Democrats and members of Michigan’s Jewish community.
On the eve of the eve of the eve of our BIG and important election, a unifying moment has arrived, our democratic nominee for U.S Senate disavows the Rebellion PAC ad made by Hasan Piker’s uncle that claims Jews are responsible for America’s economic woes. We have learned from party leaders and emissaries, as reported in the news media that he has.
On Sunday I will join with the Great Democratic leader, Jim Clyburn and Dr El Sayed for a church service in the beautiful city of Detroit.
The political coalition of Black and Jewish voices that have carried Michigan and this country through so many storms to the righteous path of liberal democracy and equal opportunity for all will ring out. Full statement here:
— Haley Stevens (@HaleyforMI) October 30, 2026
El-Sayed initially sought to distance himself from the advertisement rather than directly condemn its message.
“That has nothing to do with our campaign,” he said. “It’s certainly not what I want to be talking about right now.”
That response failed to satisfy Stevens and other Democrats, who urged the Senate hopeful to explicitly denounce the advertisement’s content.
The controversy has become another headache for El-Sayed, whose criticism of Israel and association with controversial streamer Hasan Piker have already raised concerns among some Jewish voters.
POLL: Does Abdul El-Sayed Belong In The Senate?
Piker has faced criticism over his political commentary, while El-Sayed’s campaign has struggled to convince skeptical Democrats that those associations should not affect their support.
El-Sayed also released a campaign advertisement featuring praise from prominent conservative figures, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
That decision sparked additional backlash among Jewish voters because Carlson has faced accusations of antisemitism, which he denies.
Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield criticized both advertisements 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. “Instead of things getting better over the last seven weeks, they’ve actually gotten worse.”
The growing controversy comes after an extraordinarily expensive Democratic primary in which nearly $60 million was spent on advertisements targeting El-Sayed.
Approximately $30 million came from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which supported efforts opposing his candidacy.
Stevens ultimately lost the Aug. 4 primary by a narrow margin, but her strong support among Jewish and Black voters remains a major factor in the general election.
Asked Thursday why the two Democrats had waited until the final weekend to campaign together, El-Sayed insisted that scheduling conflicts were responsible.
“we’re always trying to unify the party,” he said.
He then dismissed questions about Democratic infighting, arguing that “nobody cares” about internal party disagreements when Americans are struggling with the cost of living.
Meanwhile, Rogers has continued campaigning alongside prominent Republicans, including President Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
During a Wednesday event hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition in Birmingham, Michigan, Cruz condemned antisemitism as “a poison that is ripping the country apart.”
Cruz also accused Democrats of increasingly embracing “self-proclaimed communists and Islamists.”
Trump has sharply criticized El-Sayed throughout the campaign, previously describing him as a “jihadist” and claiming he was “on the side of terrorists.”
Abdul El-Sayed, who is Muslim, has rejected attacks on his candidacy while continuing to campaign in both Democratic strongholds and traditionally Republican areas.
Rogers has focused on economic concerns and manufacturing jobs, recently appearing alongside Trump at a rally in Port Huron.
Both candidates are also competing for Black voters in Detroit and surrounding communities.
El-Sayed’s upcoming event with Stevens and Clyburn is designed to rebuild support among voters who backed his former primary opponent.
Rogers, meanwhile, has visited community programs and discussed housing affordability with residents in the Detroit area.
With early voting already underway and Election Day approaching, El-Sayed has little time to repair the divisions that have plagued his campaign.
Sunday’s appearance will bring three prominent Democrats together in Detroit, just two days before voters decide whether El-Sayed or Rogers will represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate.
