Jewish Fiance of Rep. Stevens Says He Will Vote for Mike Rogers

Michigan voters will see a split within the household of Rep. Haley Stevens this election cycle. Jason Turkish, the Michigan attorney and fiance of the Democratic congresswoman, announced Wednesday that he intends to vote for Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers.

Turkish, a registered Democrat, made the announcement at a campaign event sponsored by the Republican Jewish Coalition. The gathering took place at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, Michigan. He stated that he could not bring himself to support Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

The core of Turkish's objection centers on El-Sayed's public statements regarding Israel and Gaza. Turkish, who identifies as Jewish, argued that the candidate's consistent use of the word genocide has increased tensions within the community. He claimed that every time El-Sayed uses that term, Jews receive death threats.

"I waited, and I watched and I listened for Abdul to moderate, but he didn't moderate, he escalated," Turkish told reporters following the event. He noted that El-Sayed has driven people further apart rather than bringing them together as the general election campaign has progressed.

Turkish also pointed to El-Sayed's relationship with streamer Hasan Piker as a factor in his decision. He criticized El-Sayed for refusing to distance himself from Piker, a figure who previously suggested the United States deserved the September 11 attacks. Turkish said El-Sayed has become verbally combative with reporters who ask about the connection.

Despite her fiance's public break, Stevens remains committed to El-Sayed's candidacy. She acknowledged the divide in her home, describing their household as "a house divided." In a statement to CNN, she said she still very much wants El-Sayed to win the race because so much is at stake.

Rogers used his platform at the Wednesday night event to criticize El-Sayed's foreign policy knowledge. The Republican candidate said that if a senator does not recognize Iran as an enemy and cannot condemn a Hezbollah-inspired attack, they have no business serving in the United States Senate. He did not mention Turkish by name during his remarks.

Turkish is the second prominent figure from Stevens' inner circle to back Rogers in recent days. David Kramer, the attorney who served as Stevens' campaign chair, announced Tuesday that he also plans to vote for the Republican. Stevens endorsed El-Sayed after losing the primary this summer but has not campaigned with him publicly since a unity breakfast held shortly after the election.