Jewish Candidate Backs Rival Who Defeated Her, Citing Anti-Israel Campaign

In a rare move close to the general election, a Democratic candidate for the Senate in Michigan, Hailey Stevens, publicly endorsed her former primary rival, Abdul El-Sayed, despite having lost to him. Stevens, a strong supporter of Israel, stated she was voting for her party's nominee but urged his campaign to "block the hate" and make coalition members feel comfortable voting. She explained her public support represents Jewish constituents in Michigan angered by what they perceive as antisemitic propaganda. El-Sayed's campaign denied involvement with a controversial election video, but Stevens insists it is insufficient. The video, reportedly from an anti-Israel influencer, criticized aid to Israel and made accusations about events in Gaza. The rift within the Democratic party is significant, with Stevens announcing she would not appear with El-Sayed in the final week of his campaign. Her fiancé, a Jewish Democrat, expressed disappointment that El-Sayed had not moderated his views after the primaries, citing his refusal to state whether Iran or Israel posed a greater threat to the U.S. and his preference for appearing with a third-place candidate over Stevens at a post-primary press conference. Polls show a near tie between El-Sayed and Republican candidate Roger in Michigan, a key state where no Republican has won a Senate seat in over three decades. The outcome of this race could determine control of the U.S. Senate. The issue of Israel remains a divisive point for many Democrats, with Jewish voters reportedly struggling to support El-Sayed, who has previously called the Israeli government "evil." The Democratic candidate also faces tensions between Black and Arab American voters in the Detroit area.