Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed trade parting shots, post-debate
Stevens, El-Sayed trade parting shots in spin-room after debate
When the back-and-forth at FOX 2's Democratic Primary Senate debate ended, after the program both candidates answered spin room questions.
FOX 2 - Progressive outsider Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and veteran US Representative Haley Stevens went head-to-head in the FOX 2 Primary debate Monday.
Michigan Senate debate
Big picture view:
Once the head-to-head debate ended, both Democrats fired back reactions to claims made, and continued their pitches to voters in the reaction room.
Haley Stevens
Stevens, a four-term member of Congress, elaborated on her stance with DTE Energy and stance against policies by President Trump, afterward.
What they're saying:
"I think my receipts, and what I am leading the fight on speaks for itself right now," she said. "You know, I am telling DTE that you are screwing over your rate payers and you are going to lose your federal funds. I am standing up to Donald Trump and these reckless abuses of power."
Timeline:
When pressed about taking donations from DTE and Consumers Energy, Stevens said that she received it a month before she entered the Senate race.
See below for Stevens' full remarks in the reaction room:
Post-Debate Reaction Room: Rep. Haley Stevens
After Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed debated on FOX 2’s "The Pulse," the media had access to both candidates for questions. Here is the session with Stevens.
Abdul El-Sayed
Dig deeper:
In the reaction room, El-Sayed faced further financial questions about his granular items in his tax returns that have yet to surface in his filings.
What they're saying:
"I think this is all a distraction from the question of who are all the 501C4s that have funded Center Forward (PAC), who are all the funders behind the Center for Democratic Priorities?" El-Sayed said. "Now, to say that somehow my tax return is more important to the voters in the state than the $60 million that have been spent in this race on ads, most of them attacking me at this point, I think is missing the vote – so, I'm happy to release everything."
He was also asked about Stevens repeatedly, referencing she was the only non-millionaire in the race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers.
El-Sayed said that maybe, when you add up his wife and his incomes on their taxes, then added that Stevens is filing single so it is not a "apples-to-apples" comparison.
Post-Debate Reaction Room: Dr. Abdul El-Sayed
After Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed debated on FOX 2’s "The Pulse," the media had access to both candidates for questions. Here is the session with El-Sayed.
More coverage:
- Stevens, El-Sayed face off in high-stakes Michigan US Senate debate
- Metro Detroit voters weigh in before Stevens, El-Sayed senate debate
Stevens said afterward she thought the debate included too many attacks on her, not enough on the race itself and how the party can defeat Rogers in the General Election.
El-Sayed spoke in the reaction room about Stevens representing business-as-usual DC politics, with tough talk about issues like utilities, then doing another in accepting donations, claiming his campaign is being outspent 12-1.
Michigan primary election
What's next:
Primary Election early voting is now underway at different locations around the state. Go to Michigan.gov/Vote for your nearby site.
The period for early voting is held about nine days prior to the election date.
Primary Election day is Aug. 4th, while the General Election is Nov. 3.
Watch the full Stevens-El-Sayed Debate:
Democratic Senate candidates Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed full debate
"The Pulse" is hosting another debate ahead of Michigan’s primary election, this time with Democratic Senate candidates Rep. Haley Stevens and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from remarks given by both candidates live during the debate on FOX 2 Monday, July 27, and in the media spin room immediately following.