Throughout the Michigan race, El-Sayed’s strong criticism of Israel has been a source of tension within the Democrat Party.
A recent flashpoint involved an advert that came from an outside liberal group. The advert linked rising prices in the US with American support for Israel. Stevens called on El-Sayed to condemn it. El-Sayed said he did not agree with the advert’s contents and said he had nothing to do with its contents, which was welcomed by Stevens.
The Michigan contest more broadly is one of the most closely-watched and bitter contests of the midterms.
El-Sayed, who would be the first Muslim person ever elected to the US Senate, has faced a variety of attacks from Rogers and Trump.
The president has invoked 9/11 and called him a “jihadist” without citing any evidence, prompting a backlash and accusations of Islamophobia.
