During the primary debate on Monday, Michigan Democratic Senate candidates Rep. Haley Stevens and Abdul El‑Sayed said they agree that Stevens is not an ogre. Stevens said El‑Sayed had told donors he would support a primary challenge to Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman in 2028, using language that likened an ogre to a political target. Some Democrats interpreted the remark as referring to Stevens and criticized the wording. In the debate, moderator Roop Raj asked El‑Sayed if he regretted the comment; he replied that he was referring to Fetterman, whom he described as having done terrible things and now abandoning his values, and said the remark was not aimed at Stevens. El‑Sayed also accused Stevens of benefiting from AIPAC‑funded advertisements that portray him as chauvinistic. Stevens countered that El‑Sayed’s focus on national politics and potential presidential ambitions would distract from Michigan voters’ concerns, suggesting he is considering a future presidential run. She concluded with a tongue‑in‑cheek remark thanking him for clarifying that he had not called her an ogre.