Turkish Vows Vote for Rogers as El-Sayed Grapples with Final Week Tensions

Jason Turkish, the fiance of former House Representative Haley Stevens, stated on Wednesday that he will cast his ballot for Republican Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race. The declaration marked a new public fracture in the Democratic Party less than one week before Election Day. Turkish told The Detroit News that his decision reflects ongoing concerns within specific Michigan communities about the candidacy of Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.

Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the primary, appeared on CNN hours after the announcement. She reaffirmed her intention to vote for El-Sayed but urged his campaign to address internal dissatisfaction. "Make people who are in my coalition, right, make them feel comfortable about coming to the polls," Stevens said. Her comments came after months of private and public criticism regarding El-Sayed's stance on Israel and his associations with controversial media figures.

The latest point of contention involves an advertisement by Rebellion PAC, an independent left-wing group. The ad linked U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices. El-Sayed stated that the advertisement has nothing to do with his campaign. He added that it is not what he wants to discuss at this stage of the election. Stevens and other Democratic allies urged El-Sayed to denounce the ad's content more forcefully rather than simply distancing himself from the group.

Republican candidate Mike Rogers has maintained close alignment with President Donald Trump. The two appeared together at a rally in Port Huron on Sunday. Rogers credited Trump with bringing manufacturing jobs back to the state. The location is significant because it sits across the river from Canada, a trading partner that has faced tariffs from the administration. Trump has frequently attacked El-Sayed's Muslim faith, calling him a "jihadist" and stating on Sunday that he is "on the side of terrorists."

Both campaigns are intensifying efforts to secure votes from Black residents in Wayne County. El-Sayed plans to campaign in the Detroit area on Sunday with Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina. His team has focused recent events on increasing turnout in the city. Rogers has also targeted this demographic by visiting a reading remediation program at a Detroit high school and discussing housing costs in Pontiac. His wife recently distributed $10 gift cards at a local gas station, a gesture that drew mixed reactions from residents.

Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield commented on the rising tension during a call with reporters. "We are one week away from the election, and it feels like the temperature has turned way up," Starr said. He noted that the situation has worsened over the last seven weeks. Starr criticized both the Rebellion PAC ad and an El-Sayed campaign ad featuring conservative voices, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Ruby Farmer, a 68-year-old retiree in Detroit, already cast her ballot for El-Sayed three weeks ago. She cited the impact of Trump's policies on her family, specifically Medicaid cuts affecting her son with special needs. "Medicaid has been cut, and for home care workers in Michigan all the benefits are on hold," Farmer said. Her experience reflects the economic anxieties that both candidates are attempting to address in the final days before voters head to the polls.