In a surprising turn of events, Rep. Haley Stevens, a Democrat from Michigan, has endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race. This development comes just days before the election and follows a series of escalating tensions with fellow Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, the party’s nominee for the Senate.
Stevens announced her endorsement in a video posted to social media, stating her support for Rogers after El-Sayed’s campaign declared her unwelcome. She emphasized her stance by making an unexpected appearance with Rogers at a Detroit church service.
“As you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away, and he’s right,” Stevens stated online. “And that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate today.”
The endorsement follows significant controversy involving El-Sayed and streamer Hasan Piker, alongside whom El-Sayed campaigned in the primary. Tensions were on the rise after Piker’s controversial comments involving Israel, leading to criticisms regarding El-Sayed’s response from Jewish and Black voters who supported Stevens.
The unexpected endorsement has stirred the Democratic Party, drawing harsh criticism from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel. They have characterized Stevens’ actions as a betrayal of Democratic principles.
Stevens also insisted El-Sayed condemn an advertisement linking Israel to high grocery prices in the U.S. The ad by Cenk Uygur of Young Turks suggested Israel’s actions affected Americans’ ability to afford essentials, which Stevens found inflammatory.
Her endorsement and resulting shockwave reflect a deeper divide within the Democratic Party concerning Israel and related rhetoric, an issue poised to influence future political strategies, particularly the 2028 presidential race.
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