Abdul El-Sayed is running out of time to fix his Senate race in Michigan. The Democrat nominee is asking for help from people he beat just months ago. He needs Rep. Haley Stevens to stand on stage with him this Sunday. He also needs South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn to join them at a church event in Detroit. The plan was first reported by The Associated Press. Two people familiar with the details told RedState that these two Democrats will finally appear together for the first time since the primary.
El-Sayed won the primary by a very small margin over Stevens. But now, voters are leaving him. Haley Stevens told CNN that many people feel “hurt” and “confused” by the candidate. She wants him to denounce ads that blame Israel for grocery prices. She also wants him to stop using a clip of Tucker Carlson. Even Barack Obama showing up to campaign for him has not worked. The former president’s message about healthcare and Iran did not change minds.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not holding back either. She spoke on the “On Brand” podcast with host Donny Deutsch on Thursday. Deutsch asked her how Jewish men can support a party with politicians making antisemitic comments. He named El-Sayed and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Deutsch called their past remarks “concerning.” Pelosi replied sharply. “No, it’s more than concerning,” she said. She called their positions “wrong.” She insisted this does not reflect the Democrats in Congress.
Mamdani has refused to say Israel has the right to be a Jewish state. In a June 28 interview with ABC News, he said he could not support any state that privileges one religion. “I think any state that privileges one religion over the other is one that I can’t tell you I support,” Mamdani said. El-Sayed has had similar trouble. In May, he told Jewish supporters he “struggled” to answer the question.
The joint event on Sunday is a clear sign of desperation. Stevens confirmed to The New York Times that she was asked to join the “souls to the polls” rally. She did better than El-Sayed with Black voters in the primary. That is why he needs her. He also needs Clyburn because Black voters in Michigan are wary of him. He had to reach all the way to South Carolina to get his support. With so little time left, it may be too late to change anyone’s mind. Stevens herself is not even changing her tone.
El-Sayed faces difficulties with both Jewish and Black voters, as neither group is accepting his message. Democrats are fleeing to his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers. Even Jason Turkish, the fiancé of his primary rival, has switched sides to Rogers. The party is trying to hold it together, but the cracks are showing. The event in Detroit will be their last major chance to show a united front before the election ends.
El-Sayed is hoping that seeing his rivals on stage will calm the nerves of undecided voters. He needs to show that the party stands behind him. But the questions about his views on Israel remain. Pelosi said she does not know of anyone on their side engaged in antisemitism, but she admitted some say things they should not. The clock is ticking down to the vote. Early voting wraps up in several states by Friday.
