Key Points: Jason Turkish Vote Shakes Michigan Senate Race
- Jason Turkish, fiancé of Rep. Haley Stevens, said last week he would vote for Republican Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.
- On Sunday, November 1, Stevens herself endorsed Rogers, two days before the midterm elections.
- Polls before the endorsement showed El-Sayed ahead, but the race was long viewed as a toss-up.
- There are no election results so far, because voting day is Tuesday, November 3.
- Many Michigan ballots were already cast before the news broke.
Who Is Jason Turkish?
Jason Turkish is a disability and civil rights attorney who lives in Huntington Woods, Michigan. He is legally blind, and his work has focused on the rights of people with disabilities.
Stevens announced their engagement on August 26, 2026. She was previously married to Rob Gulley, so Turkish is her fiancé, not her husband.
He is a lifelong Democrat and a Jewish donor, according to reports. Last week, he said El-Sayed’s rhetoric had made Jewish communities feel less safe.
How the Jason Turkish Story Became a Bigger Story
Turkish spoke out around October 28 and said he would back Rogers. David Kramer, Stevens’ former campaign chair, said the same.
Stevens first said she still wanted El-Sayed to win, calling her home “a household divided.” Then, on Friday, she demanded El-Sayed condemn an ad from an outside group, Rebellion PAC.
El-Sayed said she seemed intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago.
The 48 Hours That Changed the Race
Democrats had planned a unity event Sunday with El-Sayed, Stevens, and Rep. Jim Clyburn. Rep. Debbie Dingell, who helped organize it, said she pulled Stevens out because it had become too distracting.
Hours later, Stevens appeared with Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit. She said El-Sayed had told her she was not welcome, and then endorsed Rogers.
Dingell said Stevens had told her the night before that she would not switch sides.
Haley Stevens and Anderson Cooper
That evening, Stevens sat down with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. He pressed her repeatedly on the reversal, and she called her decision rock solid.
Dingell later called it one of the most painful interviews she has ever watched. Some of Stevens’ staff reportedly resigned, and Nancy Pelosi called the endorsement a betrayal.
Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson welcomed the move. El-Sayed’s campaign said it raised $1.2 million in the hours after.
Who Are the Candidates?
Abdul El-Sayed is a former Wayne County health director and a progressive backed by Bernie Sanders. He beat Stevens in the August 4 primary with 48.5 percent, by less than a point.
Mike Rogers is a former congressman and the Republican nominee. He lost to Elissa Slotkin in 2024 by just 0.3 percentage points.
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow dropped out in July after her polling fell, leaving a two-way fight.
Is Haley Stevens Jewish?
No. Israel Hayom reported in 2022 that she is not Jewish. She has called herself a “Zionist Democrat,” and has long supported Israel.
Her fiancé is Jewish and has family ties to Israel. Her district, covering Detroit’s northwest suburbs, has a significant Jewish population.
That background helps explain why this issue hit her so personally.
Michigan Senate Polls: Where Things Stood
Before the endorsement, CNN’s latest poll had El-Sayed up 7 points. CNN’s poll of polls showed a 5-point lead.
A New York Times poll, cited in CNN coverage, had him ahead 53 to 42. The only recent poll with Rogers ahead was sponsored by a group tied to him.
None of these polls captured the Stevens news, so the real effect is unknown.
The Angle Few Are Raising: What Can a Late Endorsement Still Change?
Here is the point most coverage skips. Michigan has nine days of early in-person voting, plus mail ballots, so many votes are already in.
That means a Sunday endorsement cannot change every ballot. Its best chance is with undecided and late-deciding voters in the Detroit suburbs.
Two groups are worth watching. One is Jewish voters in Oakland County, and the other is Black voters, whom Stevens led El-Sayed among in the primary by double digits.
With a 2024 race decided by 0.3 points, even a small shift could matter.
Election Results So Far
There are none yet. Polls close Tuesday, and results will come in that night, though a close race could take longer to call.
Both parties see this seat as key to Senate control. Republicans want to flip it, and Democrats need it to keep their path alive.
What to Watch Next
Watch for turnout in Detroit and the northern suburbs, and any statement from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or Sen. Elissa Slotkin. Also watch whether more Democrats, including donors, follow Stevens.
For readers, the key facts are simple. A family disagreement became a national story, and the voters decide on Tuesday.