Democrat Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race, Days Before Election

Michigan: Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who narrowly lost the Democratic US Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed in August, stunned party officials on Sunday by endorsing Republican candidate Mike Rogers, as Democratic infighting erupted just days before an election that could decide control of Congress.

Stevens announced her support for the Trump-backed Rogers after attending a church service with him in Detroit. The move came after she was disinvited from a joint appearance with El-Sayed scheduled for the same day.

In a video announcing the endorsement, Stevens said the Democratic nominee had made clear she was no longer welcome in his campaign, adding that she was therefore backing Rogers. The decision prompted the resignation of her long-serving chief of staff, with other staff members expected to follow, according to a person familiar with the matter. The aide said in a statement that the team was shocked and heartbroken.

Speaking to reporters later on Sunday, El-Sayed dismissed the endorsement, saying he was focused on issues that matter to voters, such as the cost of living, and that he did not think about Stevens. “None of this matters,” he said.

The development left Michigan Democratic leaders reeling. With less than 48 hours before Election Day, a party that had spent months trying to rally behind its nominee found itself confronting an extraordinary defection in one of the year’s most consequential contests.

El-Sayed, a former Michigan public health official, is running against Rogers, a former congressman, for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters. Holding Michigan is seen as crucial to Democratic hopes of securing a Senate majority for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Tensions Since the Primary

Relations between the two Democrats have been strained since the primary. Stevens is a firm supporter of Israel, while El-Sayed is a vocal critic of US policy towards the country. He has also faced criticism from some quarters over past comments relating to an attack on a Michigan synagogue and over appearances with the controversial streamer Hasan Piker.

The primary was among the most acrimonious of the year, with both candidates accusing each other of personal attacks and tens of millions of dollars in outside spending flowing into the race, including from a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) that backed Stevens. Although Stevens pledged to support El-Sayed after his victory, the two had not appeared together publicly since a unity breakfast held shortly after the primary.

Last week, Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, told The Detroit News he would vote for Rogers. Stevens subsequently reaffirmed her backing for El-Sayed on CNN, while urging his campaign to confront hateful rhetoric. On Friday, however, she issued a lengthy statement calling on El-Sayed to condemn an advertisement by an independent left-wing group linking US support for Israel to high grocery prices. El-Sayed responded that the advertisement was not produced by his campaign, that he disagreed with its contents, and that Stevens appeared intent on reopening a contest that had ended three months earlier.

Church Appearances and Disinvitation

Stevens and El-Sayed had originally been due to attend a church service together alongside other Democrats, including South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, in a show of unity aimed at boosting turnout in the Detroit area, where concerns persist over enthusiasm among Black and Jewish voters. Stevens had carried Wayne County, which includes Detroit, and neighbouring Oakland County in the primary with strong support from both communities.

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, a senior Michigan Democrat who helped organise the event, said she had asked Stevens not to attend because the situation had become too distracting, and that Stevens had agreed. Instead, Stevens attended Perfecting Church with Rogers and his wife, Kristi, while El-Sayed campaigned a few miles away alongside Dingell, Clyburn, Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks and state Senator Mallory McMorrow.

After the service, Stevens told reporters she was not abandoning the Democratic Party and that her decision concerned only this one vote. Rogers said he was honoured by her support.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday evening, Stevens said she had reached her decision after reflecting that morning, describing it as a weight off her shoulders and characterising El-Sayed as increasingly angry. Dingell, appearing on the network immediately afterwards, described it as one of the most painful interviews she had watched and said she had been worried about Stevens all week.

Party Condemnation

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Stevens had abandoned everything she claimed to stand for and vowed that the party would not be deterred by last-minute distractions. He later stated that Stevens was not a current member of the state party and would not be in the future.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who had supported Stevens in the primary, called her endorsement “a despicable betrayal.”

Republicans Welcome Endorsement

President Trump praised Stevens on Truth Social, describing her as a highly respected Democrat, hailing her support among Black and Jewish voters in Michigan, and commending what he called her bravery and loyalty to the people of the state.

Speaking at a campaign rally with Trump in Iowa, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had spoken with Stevens after the endorsement and encouraged her to stay safe and continue speaking out. Republican National Committee spokesman Hunter Lovell said Democrats who felt abandoned by El-Sayed had a home with Rogers.

Early voting in Michigan has been under way since 24 October, with more than 1.8 million ballots cast as of Friday ahead of Tuesday’s election.