Haley Stevens, who lost Michigan's Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed in August, demanded the candidate apologize for an ad produced by Cenk Uygur's Rebellion PAC linking U.S. support for Israel's military to domestic price increases. El-Sayed's campaign was not involved in producing or distributing the ad but distanced itself from it on Thursday.
Rather than accept that concession, Stevens issued a statement Friday framing her decision to campaign for El-Sayed on Sunday as conditional on his compliance with her demands. Stevens, a white Protestant, positioned herself as a spokeswoman for Michigan's Black and Jewish communities and implied El-Sayed was antisemitic and attempting to court the far right.
The pressure on El-Sayed reflects centrist Democratic opposition to his stance on Israel. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Thursday that opposition to Israel's existence as an apartheid ethnostate is "wrong." Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., declined to directly endorse El-Sayed by name on CNN Wednesday.
A Marist poll released October 21 found 95 percent of Michigan Democrats support El-Sayed. Former President Barack Obama and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., have campaigned for the candidate.
Stevens's fiancé, donor Jason Turkish, announced he would vote for Republican Mike Rogers on Tuesday. Turkish told TMZ that Stevens might join him unless El-Sayed met her demands.
The El-Sayed campaign said Stevens was not wanted at Sunday's rally, calling her appearance a distraction. El-Sayed said Friday he is focused on affordability, defeating Republicans, and keeping the Senate seat blue.