Stevens courts McMorrow supporters, leans into electability pitch at small business visit

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, a Democratic candidate in a U.S. Senate primary that is now a two-person race, drew hard lines between herself and her primary opponent, former Wayne County Health Department executive Abdul El-Sayed, in a visit to Sea Leveaux, a Cajun boil restaurant in downtown Lansing that opened on Thursday. 

She made her bid to former supporters of Mallory McMorrow, who dropped out of the contentious primary on Sunday, trying to attract them into her camp, leaning heavily on a message of electability in the November general election against Republican Mike Rogers. 

“Mallory McMorrow is a friend of mine,” Stevens said. “Her supporters are amazing people who work really hard alongside her, and I’m welcoming them with open arms, eager to earn their vote, and to accomplish this goal of beating Mike Rogers in November. That’s what this is all about.”

McMorrow suspends U.S. Senate campaign

Much of that argument centered on her support for manufacturing in the state, in her time as a representative and before. She called herself “Michigan’s manufacturing geek” and “Michigan’s workhorse.”

“It is why I do very well with independent voters,” she added. “It is why poll after poll shows that I’m in the best and strongest position to take on Mike Rogers.”

She expressed respect and support for McMorrow throughout the conversation with reporters, saying that the state senator “made me a better candidate, and I am bringing and welcoming in some of the ideas that she put forth that she championed alongside her supporters.”

Stevens also flipped the electability argument on El-Sayed, saying that the Republican Party is propping up his campaign — which she said shows the GOP’s desperation in the race, but also that they would prefer to run against him in a general election and believe he will bring an easier path to victory for Rogers.

“They know that when I’m the Democratic nominee, I’m going to be able to eat Mike Rogers’ breakfast and lunch on economic issues,” she said.

In contrast, a memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which POLITICO reported Monday, called El-Sayed “the most radical Democrat Senate nominee of the cycle – and one with a credible path to victory.”

“Democrats are on the verge of nominating the most ideologically extreme Senate candidate ever to compete in a battleground race – and they will unite behind him the moment the primary ends. Mike Rogers can win this race, but only if Republicans move with the same urgency,” the memo said. “The time to define Abdul El-Sayed is now – but we need you.”

When asked about that memo, Stevens simply said that Republicans would rather face El-Sayed than her in a general election. 

Stevens also doubled down on comments made in a new ad from United Democracy Project, a Washington, D.C.-based group aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, which has heavily supported Stevens, alleging El-Sayed has “a long history of disrespecting women.”

“My opponent, Abdul, he has said misogynistic things,” Stevens said. “He has called into question my ability to think for myself. I think people are tired of that, and that’s not a winning message or track record for Michigan. And we’ve got to turn the page on some of the negative politics and policies.”

While The Detroit Free Press reported that the claims in the ad “stretches its facts,” Stevens said it was “fair game in any race to engage in these debates, engage in these conversations. I just can back up my statements with facts.”