Stevens Fiance Breaks With El-Sayed Over Gaza Rhetoric, Backs Rogers

A rift in the Michigan Democratic base has widened as Jason Turkish, the fiancé of Rep. Haley Stevens, declared he will vote for Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers. Turkish, a Jewish registered Democrat and lawyer, made the announcement at a campaign event in Birmingham on Wednesday. He cited El-Sayed’s handling of the war in Gaza as the primary reason for his decision.

Turkish stated that he waited for El-Sayed to moderate his position but felt the candidate escalated instead. He argued that El-Sayed’s rhetoric drives communities apart rather than bringing them together. Specifically, Turkish pointed to El-Sayed’s repeated use of the word genocide and his refusal to distance himself from an advertisement implying Jews are responsible for high banana prices.

The decision places Turkish at odds with his fiancée. Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in a closely fought primary this summer, continues to support the Democrat. She described her household as divided but emphasized the stakes of the general election. She said she still wants El-Sayed to win because so much is on the line for the party.

Turkish framed his choice as putting country before party. He is the second prominent figure from Stevens’ orbit to switch sides in recent days. Attorney David Kramer, who served as Stevens’ former campaign chair, announced Tuesday that he also intends to vote for Rogers. Stevens has not campaigned publicly with El-Sayed since a unity breakfast following the primary.

At the Townsend Hotel event, which was sponsored by the Republican Jewish Coalition, Rogers dismissed El-Sayed’s qualifications. Rogers said El-Sayed has no business in the Senate if he does not know Iran is an enemy and cannot condemn a Hezbollah-inspired attack. Rogers did not mention Turkish’s support during his remarks.

Turkish also criticized El-Sayed’s relationship with streamer Hasan Piker. He noted that Piker once said America deserved the 9/11 attacks. Turkish said El-Sayed has become verbally combative when reporters ask about Piker. He predicted that Michigan voters will reject the candidate’s equivocation on these issues.

The Michigan Senate race is currently between El-Sayed and Rogers. El-Sayed has called the war in Gaza a genocide, while Israel maintains it is fighting terrorists who use civilians as human shields. Turkish said every time El-Sayed uses that term, Jewish residents receive death threats. He believes El-Sayed’s actions make his community less safe.