Democratic Lawmaker Breaks Ranks to Back Republican in Michigan Senate Race as Corporate and Pro-Trump Forces Close In
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With one day left before the U.S. midterm elections, Michigan Democratic Representative Haley Stevens stunned political observers by endorsing Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, drawing fierce condemnation from Democratic leaders and enthusiastic praise from President Donald Trump. The move highlights the party’s internal fractures and the growing power of reactionary politics in a high-stakes battleground race.
With a single day remaining before the United States midterm elections, campaigns are intensifying as voters prepare to cast ballots for all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and numerous gubernatorial contests. In Michigan, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens announced she will support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, despite having lost the Democratic primary to Abdul-El-Sayed earlier this year. Stevens said her endorsement reflects concerns over El-Sayed’s stance on U.S. aid to Israel, which she has characterised as anti-Semitic.
El-Sayed responded that a vote for Rogers would be a vote for President Donald Trump and noted a recent increase in fundraising following Stevens’ cross-party endorsement. Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, condemned Stevens’ decision. Schumer posted on X, “This is a despicable betrayal from Representative Stevens. Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed, because we know he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan, unlike Mike Rogers, who is a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors.”
Michigan Democratic Party chairman Curtis Hertel told CNN that Stevens does not represent the broader community, and the advocacy group Michigan Jews for Democracy issued a statement rejecting her remarks as an attempt to divide the Jewish community. President Trump, speaking at a rally in Iowa, said he would “love” for Stevens to join the Republican Party and praised her for speaking “what few people are willing to say.”
Early voting data shows that about 54.5 million of the roughly 210 million registered voters have already cast ballots, with early participation higher among Democrats than Republicans. Analysts note that early voting has surged in key battleground states such as Texas, South Carolina, Kansas, Michigan and Maine. A federal judge also dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit seeking to block Alaska from certifying a Senate race result, and Senator Dan Sullivan pledged to accept the outcome.
The endorsement is expected to influence the final stretch of the campaign, though it remains uncertain whether it will shift voter preferences or affect turnout.