Democratic Representative Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race
Sitting Democratic Representative Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican nominee Mike Rogers in Michigan's crucial US Senate election, escalating an ongoing intra-party dispute just days ahead of the vote. Stevens, who lost the Democratic nomination primary earlier this year to left-wing candidate Abdul El-Sayed, appeared alongside Rogers on Sunday to announce her endorsement.
In a video published on X shortly after her appearance with Rogers, Stevens publicly distanced herself from her party's nominee. "I don't belong in Abdul's campaign," Stevens said in the video. "Who we are as Michiganders is not hate and is not what we are getting out from our Democratic nominee right now. That's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers."
Speaking to reporters while standing beside Rogers, Stevens said the election remains very close. "Abdul made clear that I was not welcome in his campaign, that he didn't need me there, that he didn't want me there," she stated. Stevens had originally been scheduled to attend a separate event with El-Sayed on Sunday, but he reportedly asked her not to attend.
Tensions and Dispute Over Campaign Messaging
The feud between the two Democrats escalated following a public clash over a campaign advertisement released by an outside liberal group. The advertisement blamed Israel for high food prices. El-Sayed publicly criticised the advert, stating that he had no involvement with its contents.
Responding to reporters on Sunday regarding the endorsement, El-Sayed dismissed the development and emphasised his focus on Michigan voters. "At the end of the day, I don't think about Haley Stevens," El-Sayed said. "None of this matters." He added that he remains focused on the issues directly affecting residents across the state.
During their primary contest earlier this year, El-Sayed, a former public health official and the son of Egyptian immigrants, defeated establishment-backed Stevens to secure the nomination. El-Sayed ran as a left-wing candidate addressing grassroots frustration with Washington politics and US relations with Israel. Stevens, a centrist Democrat, had drawn support from prominent party figures, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Reactions from Party Leadership and Voters
The endorsement drew swift praise from Republicans and severe criticism from Democratic officials. Rogers welcomed the endorsement during brief comments to reporters, praising Stevens for showing "courage." Former President Donald Trump also praised the move on Truth Social, writing that Stevens "showed great and almost unprecedented loyalty to the Great People of Michigan with what she did."
Conversely, the decision triggered immediate fallout within Stevens' own office and political circle, where many of her staff members reportedly resigned immediately following the announcement. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer condemned the move on Sunday, describing her endorsement of Rogers as "a despicable betrayal" of her party.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel issued a statement rejecting the move and stating that Stevens' decision "shows that she has abandoned everything she claims to care about." Hertel added, "We reject the attempts by Stevens and bad-faith actors to divide our party and undermine our momentum." Prior to the announcement, several Michigan Democratic politicians had publicly urged Stevens over the weekend to halt the feud and support the party's platform.
In downtown Detroit, Democratic voters expressed disappointment over the development, with some describing it as a party betrayal given the ideological differences between Stevens and Rogers. Meanwhile, some local voters and supporters of Rogers expressed doubt that the endorsement would alter the final outcome of the race, suggesting that voters had already made up their minds.
High Stakes for Michigan and Senate Control
The Michigan contest is rated by political analysts as one of the tightest races in Tuesday's midterm elections. As one of several key battleground seats across the country, the outcome in Michigan is expected to play a major role in determining which party controls the US Senate.
The Senate seat is currently held by a retiring Democrat. The last time a Republican won election to this specific Senate seat in Michigan was in 1994. However, Michigan remains a closely contested swing state in national politics, having voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election before voting for Donald Trump in 2024.
