Jason Turkish, the fiancé of Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens, has become a focus of attention amid a dispute over Michigan’s U.S. Senate race and the Democratic Party’s position on Israel.
Turkish said on Wednesday that he would not support the Democratic nominee, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, citing El-Sayed’s criticisms of Israel. On Sunday, Stevens endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers after attending services with him at a prominent Black church in Detroit. Her decision came despite earlier assurances to Democratic leaders that she would support the party’s ticket.
The disagreement involving Stevens and El-Sayed has highlighted tensions within Democratic politics over U.S. support for Israel, while also raising questions about Turkish’s influence in the dispute.
Turkish, 39, is a lawyer and fundraiser for Democratic candidates and Jewish causes. He lives in Southfield, a Detroit suburb, and graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007, the same year as El-Sayed. He is president and managing partner of Nyman Turkish, a disability rights law firm, and has been legally blind since birth.
He describes himself as a lifelong Democrat and has donated, along with his firm, to Democratic campaigns around the country. Federal records also show that he has contributed to at least one Republican, Senator Susan Collins of Maine.
Former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard, a friend of Stevens, characterized Turkish as deeply involved in politics and said he had raised substantial sums for Democratic candidates in the state. Turkish is also active in Michigan’s Jewish and pro-Israel communities and has donated to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Some of his relatives live in Israel, where others were born.
Sources: The New York Times Politics.