Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race
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Democrat Haley Stevens has publicly endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race, creating a rift within her party just days before the election.
In a surprising move, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate, following her loss to Abdul El-Sayed for the Democratic nomination. Stevens made her endorsement known during an appearance with Rogers, stating, "I don't belong in Abdul's campaign," and emphasizing that the values of Michiganders do not align with what she perceives as hate from the Democratic nominee.
Stevens' decision has drawn sharp criticism from fellow Democrats, with one party member labeling it a "despicable betrayal" just two days before the election. Tensions escalated after Stevens called on El-Sayed to denounce a controversial campaign advertisement from a liberal group that linked U.S. support for Israel to rising prices. El-Sayed condemned the ad and distanced himself from it.
Initially scheduled to appear with El-Sayed to promote party unity, Stevens opted to attend a church service with Rogers instead after reportedly being told she was not welcome at the event. "At the end of the day, I don't think about Haley Stevens," El-Sayed remarked, downplaying the significance of her actions.
The Michigan Senate race is viewed as one of the most competitive in the upcoming midterm elections, with the seat currently held by a retiring Democrat. Historically, it has been a battleground state, having voted for both Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024. Following Stevens' announcement, many of her staff reportedly resigned, and the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party criticized her actions as a departure from her stated values. "We reject the attempts by Stevens and bad-faith actors to divide our party," said Curtis Hertel, the party chair. Meanwhile, Rogers expressed interest in having Stevens join the Republican Party, stating, "I'd love her to join the Republican Party actually."