Campaigns enter final stretch with Michigan rift and FBI donor queries

Democratic Representative Haley Stevens appeared with Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers at a Detroit church on Sunday amid an ongoing rift with her party's nominee, Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in Michigan's August primary, recently urged him to condemn an outside group's ad linking U.S. military aid to Israel to rising grocery prices. El-Sayed stated he did not make the ad and disagrees with its contents, while accusing Stevens of relitigating the primary. Rogers praised Stevens on X, while Democratic Representative Debbie Dingell noted she advised against them sharing a stage to keep the focus on campaign issues. Senator Bernie Sanders strongly criticized Republican rhetoric in the Michigan Senate race during an appearance on "Face the Nation." Sanders denounced attacks on El-Sayed's ethnicity and religion, specifically pointing to comments from Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz that implied El-Sayed supported the Muslim Brotherhood. Sanders called the advertisements disgusting and racist, while El-Sayed denied any connection to the Muslim Brotherhood. Meanwhile, in New York, Republican Representative Mike Lawler defended his record against Democratic challenger Cait Conley ahead of Tuesday's election, highlighting his local roots and bipartisan ratings. Former President Barack Obama endorsed Democratic Senate nominee Charles Booker in Kentucky on Sunday. Booker is running against Republican Representative Andy Barr to succeed 84-year-old Senator Mitch McConnell, who announced his retirement last year. Separately, the FBI has started contacting donors of Daniel J. Sullivan, an independent U.S. Senate candidate in Alaska who shares a name with the Republican incumbent, as part of an investigation into potential deception.

Context

These final-day campaign events arrive just ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections across the United States. Such high-stakes contests frequently draw national surrogates, prominent endorsements, and intense scrutiny over tight races that could shift control of Congress.