Democrat Haley Stevens Defies Her Party and Endorses Republican Mike Rogers in Senate Race
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Haley Stevens, a Democratic congresswoman from Michigan, has endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over her party's nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, after a contentious primary and escalating tensions over Israel revealed a party in disarray.
Haley Stevens, a Democratic congresswoman from Michigan, has endorsed Republican Mike Rogers just days before the midterm elections, a move that has sparked significant backlash within her party and highlighted just how fractured the Democrats have become. Stevens, who lost the Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, announced her decision on Sunday, citing the ongoing tensions over Israel as a key factor in her break with the party's nominee.
Despite previously pledging to support El-Sayed, Stevens changed her position after weeks of public disputes over Israel's military actions and U.S. aid to the country. Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, had already backed Rogers and accused El-Sayed of anti-Semitism because of his criticism of Israel. The situation escalated when an independent group supporting El-Sayed released an advertisement that Stevens condemned as anti-Semitic, further straining an already damaged relationship.
Stevens said in a video that she had been uninvited from a church service meant to showcase Democratic unity, which led her to endorse Rogers. "Our Democratic nominee for Senate said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away," she explained. "And he’s right. And that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today."
The endorsement has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic leaders, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who called it a "despicable betrayal." He stressed that voters should focus on policy issues rather than Stevens's decision. The endorsement has also led to resignations within her team, with her chief of staff expressing shock at her choice.
As the race to replace retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters intensifies, the impact of Stevens's endorsement on voter turnout and support for either candidate remains uncertain. Polling shows that El-Sayed has consolidated much of the Democratic support, but Stevens's influence in key Democratic strongholds could still sway some voters toward Rogers.