Michigan Democratic Senate candidates Rep. Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed clashed Monday night in their final primary debate, hours after a leaked recording of El-Sayed surfaced. The exchange centered on El-Sayed's earlier comments about Sen. John Fetterman.
The candidates agreed during the debate that Stevens is not an ogre. El-Sayed had used the phrase in a donor Zoom call, saying he would support a primary challenge to Fetterman in 2028 and that ideally one would put an ogre on a pike to send a message.
El-Sayed clarified that he was referring to Fetterman, not Stevens. He said Fetterman had done terrible things and thrown values in the mud. Stevens used the moment to criticize El-Sayed for focusing on national politics rather than Michigan issues.
The remarks drew backlash from several Democrats, including Rep. Hillary Scholten, who called violent threats out of place in elections. Stevens offered a light response, thanking El-Sayed for clarifying that he had not called her an ogre. The Aug. 4 primary remains ahead.
