Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign says it raised more than $2.4 million in one day, setting a fundraising record in the final stretch of the Michigan Senate race.
The campaign said Sunday’s total came from more than 65,000 donors, whose contributions averaged $36.74. Nearly 29,600 people donated for the first time.
The fundraising surge followed Rep. Haley Stevens’ endorsement of Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday. Stevens had lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed, a more progressive candidate, earlier this year.
“As Michiganders head to the polls, the momentum behind Abdul’s campaign has never been stronger,” campaign spokesperson Cole Wozniak said after the final-day fundraising haul.
Stevens, who was seen as the more moderate, establishment-backed contender in the primary, said she remains “a very proud Democrat” who loves Michigan. But in a video posted to social media over the weekend, she said she could not support El-Sayed, pointing to his support from political streamer Hasan Piker, whom she described as radical left-wing.
“Hey Michigan, as you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away—and he’s right. And that’s why I’m endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today,” Stevens said in a video posted on X.
Democrats quickly criticized her endorsement of Rogers, who has the backing of President Trump.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Stevens’ decision “a despicable betrayal” and said Senate Democrats remain united behind El-Sayed. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel also condemned the move, saying Stevens had “abandoned everything she claims to care about.”
El-Sayed dismissed the endorsement on Sunday, telling reporters he was focused on voters and policy, not Stevens or Rogers.
In recent months, El-Sayed has also tried to distance himself from Piker as the streamer has gained more national attention and faced scrutiny over controversial remarks, including antisemitic comments and a claim that “America deserved 9/11.”
