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MENDING FENCES

Haley Stevens to campaign for El-Sayed after fiancé backs Rogers

Rep. Jim Clyburn, one of the leading Black Democrats in the House, is also slated to appear the Sunday unity event

Rep. Haley Stevens, D-MI (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) is set to campaign with Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, after she publicly urged the Democratic nominee to speak up more clearly against hate, and after her fiancé said he plans to support El-Sayed’s GOP opponent Mike Rogers, according to the Associated Press. 

The two Democrats haven’t appeared together since immediately after the primary election, and Stevens said as recently as earlier Thursday that she wasn’t planning to appear with El-Sayed before Election Day.

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), an influential Black Democrat who supported Stevens in the primary, is also set to attend the Detroit event, according to AP.

Stevens told CNN on Wednesday that she wants to see El-Sayed publicly denounce an antisemitic ad supporting him from Rebellion PAC, which blames Israel for high grocery prices, and an ad his own campaign is running that includes footage of far-right commentator Tucker Carlson.

Stevens said that undecided Jewish and Black voters who supported her have expressed concerns about such issues.

El-Sayed, asked to respond, sidestepped Stevens’ recommendation and suggested that anyone not committed to supporting him has their priorities wrong.

“I’m thankful to Congresswoman Stevens for her support early in the general election, and we’re going to keep building that big, broad coalition that we know is going to deliver victory in November. But the big point here is that I’m not just running to win a seat; I’m running to win the future,” he said. “For some folks, they might have higher priorities than defending our democracy, and that’s fine for them. That is their choice. That’s the beauty of democracy.”

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