El-Sayed accuses Stevens of ‘relitigating’ primary after calls for apology on Israel

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s US Senate seat, accused his former primary rival, Representative Haley Stevens, of trying to ‘relitigate’ their August contest after she called for an apology over his comments about Israel. Stevens also urged him to condemn a digital advert by an independent political group that linked US support for Israel to high grocery prices. El-Sayed said his campaign had no connection to the advert and later said he disagreed with its contents. He argued that Democrats should focus on defeating Republican nominee Mike Rogers and addressing the cost of living.

The dispute reopened a division that had shaped their primary campaign. Stevens said El-Sayed had blamed Israel for Michigan’s inability to afford public services; a review of his remarks found that he had criticised US military aid to Israel but had also cited other causes of underfunded services. The two had been expected to appear together at a Detroit church service before election day. Instead, Stevens was asked not to attend the joint event and, on 1 November, endorsed Rogers, deepening the split in a closely contested race.