The fiancé of Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens has broken with her party's Senate nominee, saying he will cast his ballot for Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's high-stakes Senate race. Jason Turkish, a Jewish Democratic donor, told The Detroit News that Abdul El-Sayed's campaign rhetoric has become dangerous for Jewish communities.
"We have never seen a candidate for U.S. Senate act so recklessly toward the safety of Jews in the community as we have seen from Abdul," Turkish said in an interview published Wednesday. He accused El-Sayed of "an escalation in rhetoric since the primary" that "makes folks unsafe," adding, "Every time he talks about genocide, Jews get death threats."
Turkish's comments come after El-Sayed narrowly defeated Stevens in Michigan's Democratic primary in August. Stevens has since endorsed El-Sayed but has not appeared with him on the campaign trail for months. The couple announced their engagement shortly after the primary.
El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health director, has faced scrutiny over his criticism of Israel's military operations in Gaza. He apologized in August for remarks made after an attack on a Detroit-area synagogue. He also distanced himself from left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who made controversial comments about American Jews who support Israel while appearing with El-Sayed on the trail.
In response, El-Sayed's campaign spokesperson, Roxie Richner, said the candidate is "focused on building a broad coalition" in Michigan. The campaign did not directly address Turkish's allegations.
Turkish's decision is a notable defection in a race that has drawn national attention. He plans to attend a Rogers campaign event in Birmingham, Mich., on Wednesday evening, hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition. The event, titled "Who Will Keep Us Safe? Rogers vs. El-Sayed," will feature Rogers and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R).
Turkish's announcement follows a similar statement from Stevens's former campaign chair, who told Jewish Insider on Tuesday that he would not support El-Sayed either. The former chair, whose name was not disclosed in the original report, said he has "lots of issues with Mike Rogers" but has "made peace with voting for him" because Rogers "at least does care about Jews being safe and participating in public life."
The rift within Democratic ranks could have implications for the broader race. While El-Sayed has sought to unify the party, the defection of prominent Jewish donors may complicate his efforts. The controversy also echoes broader national debates over Israel and antisemitism, which have roiled Democratic primaries across the country.
Rogers, a former FBI agent and congressman, has sought to position himself as a moderate Republican, though he has faced attacks from the right over his criticism of former President Trump. The race is seen as one of the most competitive in the country, with control of the Senate potentially at stake.
Neither Stevens nor Turkish responded to requests for further comment. El-Sayed's campaign has not commented on Turkish's specific allegations beyond the earlier statement.
