Jason Turkish said he will vote for Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, telling reporters on Oct. 29 that he plans to back Rogers over Democrat Abdul El‑Sayed.
Turkish, the fiancé of U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, told a Detroit News reporter he attended a Rogers campaign event in Birmingham and that Rogers “would have his vote,” according to the newspaper.
At the event and in comments reported by MLive, Turkish framed his choice around concerns over El‑Sayed’s rhetoric on Israel and comments he said made Jewish and other communities feel less safe. MLive quoted Turkish: “When he says genocide over and over again, when he refuses to condemn an ad that says Jews are to blame for the price of bananas, he makes my community less safe.”
Stevens, who lost to El‑Sayed in the Democratic primary, has continued to say she will vote the Democratic ticket even as her household is divided. The Detroit News reported Stevens plans to appear with El‑Sayed at a Nov. 1 church event in Detroit despite the disagreement within her family.
El‑Sayed responded to Turkish’s comments by emphasizing his focus on control of the U.S. Senate, telling reporters that the race is about checking former President Donald Trump and protecting rights and programs he said would be at risk, the Detroit News reports.
How the split fits the wider race
The Stevens–Turkish split landed during a campaign stretch when Michigan’s Senate contest has drawn national attention and outside spending. Local reporting shows the disagreement has surfaced publicly as both campaigns seek to mobilize voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Campaigns and local outlets have seized on Turkish’s declaration. MLive noted Turkish is a donor who has given to both Democratic and Republican candidates in the past, and the Detroit News said Rogers called Turkish’s support “one of those good surprises.”
Political reporters emphasize the symbolic weight of a lawmaker’s spouse or partner breaking publicly from the party line in a close contest, but the immediate effect on turnout is uncertain. El‑Sayed told MLive that if voters prioritize foreign‑policy disagreements over other issues, that is their choice.
For readers tracking the race, recent site coverage includes polling and debate coverage that map the contest’s dynamics: polls showing a close race and the candidates’ debate exchanges have been reported locally.
Sources
- The Detroit News — reported Turkish said he would vote for Rogers and that Stevens plans to appear with El‑Sayed at a Nov. 1 event.
- MLive — published Turkish’s quoted reasons, including his concerns about El‑Sayed’s Israel comments, and noted Turkish attended a Rogers event.
Related coverage: Michigan Senate race: El-Sayed leads Rogers in late polls and Abdul El-Sayed sparred with Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate debate.
