Michigan Senate race shows Democratic weakness as lawmaker boosts Republican amid high-stakes midterms
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Congresswoman Haley Stevens backed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s knife-edge Senate contest, drawing outrage from Democratic leaders as the country heads toward the 2026 midterm elections.
The United States will hold its 2026 midterm elections on Tuesday, with control of Congress hanging in the balance for the rest of President Donald Trump’s term. Republicans currently control the White House and both chambers of Congress, while Democrats are trying to claw back a majority from a political machine that has tightened its grip on Washington.
In Michigan, the Senate race has turned into a dramatic flashpoint. After losing the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed, Congresswoman Haley Stevens announced that she would back Republican Mike Rogers, a move that stunned many Democrats and underscored the party’s internal fractures. In a video posted to X, Stevens said, "> I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign. 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."
Rogers thanked Stevens and portrayed her support as an act of "courage" in remarks to reporters. President Trump, speaking at a rally in Iowa, called Stevens "very brave" and said he would welcome her joining the Republican Party.
Democratic leaders responded with fury. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the endorsement a "despicable betrayal," while Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel posted on X that Stevens is no longer a member of the state party. Several of Stevens’ staff reportedly resigned after the announcement, reflecting the turmoil her decision set off.
El-Sayed, who would become the first Muslim senator if elected, brushed aside the endorsement and said he remains focused on the issues affecting Michiganders. The race is being watched as one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country, with the outcome expected to shape which party controls the chamber.
The broader midterms are widely seen as a referendum on President Trump’s agenda, with voters set to choose congressional representation against a backdrop of high living costs and ongoing international conflicts.