Democratic Congresswoman Stevens Backs Republican Rogers Over Her Own Party's Senate Nominee in Michigan

Democratic US Representative Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan's race for the US Senate against her own party's nominee, Dr Abdul El-Sayed. She announced the move on Sunday — a stunning reversal after she had previously said she would support El-Sayed.

In a video posted on social media on Sunday, Stevens said: 'Hey Michigan, as you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away. And he's right, and that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today. I don't belong in Abdul's campaign.'

El-Sayed and Stevens faced off in an acrimonious Democratic primary, but had seemingly mended fences afterwards. In recent days, however, a new dispute spilled into the open after Stevens asked El-Sayed to disavow an ad from an outside group that she said was antisemitic.

Stevens' fiancé, Jason Turkish, has also said he plans to vote for Mike Rogers, and last week he attended an event with Rogers and Senator Ted Cruz.

Stevens also attended a Black church service on Sunday in Detroit with Rogers. A Rogers campaign representative posted a photo on X on Sunday morning of Stevens and Rogers standing side by side at the service.

As recently as last week, Stevens told CNN she would vote for El-Sayed, saying: 'Of course I'm voting, you know, for our Democratic nominee for Senate. I'm voting for the Democratic ticket.'

El-Sayed attended a Black church service at a different church in Detroit on Sunday, alongside Representative Jim Clyburn, who attended with him. Stevens had previously been expected to appear with El-Sayed, but the joint appearance was thrown into doubt after the new dispute broke out.

Speaking to the press after the service, El-Sayed said of her endorsement: 'At the end of the day, I actually don't think about Haley Stevens.' He said Michigan is a state of 10 million people who deserve a lot better from the government, and that he is far more focused on the other 9,999,998 people. He pointed to gas prices, grocery costs, and air and water quality as issues Michigan voters are dealing with.

President Donald Trump lavished praise on Stevens in a social media post on Sunday for endorsing Rogers, saying in part that Stevens showed 'great and almost unprecedented loyalty' to Michigan in doing so.

But Stevens' fellow Democrats were swift to condemn the endorsement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X: 'This is a despicable betrayal from Rep. Stevens.' He said Senate Democrats are united in their support for Abdul El-Sayed because he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan, unlike Mike Rogers, whom he called a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors.

Democratic National Committee Black Caucus Chair Virgie Rollins, in a statement released by the Michigan Democratic Party, said they were dismayed that Congresswoman Stevens had revealed herself to be a sellout who used Black Michiganders for a political stunt. She said Stevens has lost her way, that Michiganders know Rogers is a shill for Trump who has failed Michigan, and that they are ready to elect Abdul on Tuesday.

Michigan Democratic Representative Debbie Dingell wrote on X that Michiganders want leaders focused on making their lives more affordable, not on Congresswoman Stevens' continued efforts to get attention. She said Democrats must stay focused on electing Democrats up and down the ballot, including electing Abdul El-Sayed as Michigan's next Senator.