Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Rival in Senate Race
The congresswoman backs Mike Rogers against Abdul El-Sayed days before the election, citing a fractured relationship with her former primary opponent.
By Harper Laurent ·
Haley Stevens, a sitting Michigan congresswoman, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for the US Senate on Sunday, a move that upended the state's tightest race. Stevens appeared alongside Rogers at a church service, marking a sharp break from her own party just days before voters head to the polls.
Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed earlier this year, said she no longer felt welcome in his campaign. She posted a video to X stating that the state's identity was not defined by hate, which she attributed to her former opponent's messaging. "That is why I am endorsing Mike Rogers," she said in the clip.
The endorsement followed a public dispute over a campaign advertisement from an outside liberal group. The ad blamed Israel for high food prices, a position El-Sayed criticized, saying he had no connection to its contents. Stevens claimed El-Sayed told her he did not need her in his campaign and did not want her there. The two had been scheduled to appear together at a different event on Sunday, but El-Sayed reportedly asked her to skip it.
El-Sayed downplayed the impact of the endorsement when speaking to reporters. He said he was focused on the economic problems facing residents. "At the end of the day, I do not think about Haley Stevens," El-Sayed said. "None of this matters."
Reactions from Michigan voters were mixed. In downtown Detroit, many Democrats expressed disappointment. Summer Lawrence, a 21-year-old student, described the endorsement as a betrayal of the party's values. Matthew Barera, another voter, suggested Stevens might be acting out of frustration from the primary race. Rogers supporters, however, doubted the move would change the outcome. Marissa Lee, a supporter of Rogers, said, "People can see right through her actions, you know? She is just angry."
National Democratic leaders reacted quickly. Senator Chuck Schumer called the endorsement a "despicable betrayal" on Sunday. He stated that Senate Democrats remain united behind El-Sayed, who he said will fight for working families, unlike Rogers, whom Schumer described as a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors. Curtis Hertel, the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, said in a statement that Stevens has abandoned the principles she claims to care about.
Stevens' office saw immediate turnover, with many staff members reportedly resigning right after the announcement. State Senator Mallory McMorrow urged Stevens to end the feud and back the party's candidates, arguing the dispute had become personal. "It feels like it is more about her feelings than Michiganders," McMorrow said on MSNow.
President Donald Trump praised Stevens on Truth Social, saying she showed great and almost unprecedented loyalty to the people of Michigan. The Michigan Senate seat is currently held by a retiring Democrat. A Republican last won the seat in 1994, though the state has voted for both major parties in recent presidential elections, supporting Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024.
