Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate on Sunday, November 1, following a disagreement with the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed. The announcement took place at a Detroit church and via a social media video, marking a reversal from Stevens’ statement just days earlier that she intended to vote for the Democratic ticket.
The shift follows a public dispute between Stevens and El-Sayed, who defeated her in the August Democratic primary. The conflict centered on an advertisement from an outside group that Stevens characterized as antisemitic for linking U.S. military aid for Israel to grocery prices. While El-Sayed stated he did not make the ad and disagreed with its contents, he accused Stevens of relitigating their primary. On Saturday, October 31, El-Sayed said he would "rather not distract from the key issues" and asked Stevens to stay away from his remaining campaign events.
In her endorsement video, Stevens stated that El-Sayed told her she was "no longer welcome" in his campaign. Rogers, a former U.S. Representative, had previously praised Stevens for her criticism of the advertisement, calling her a "courageous leader." The endorsement occurred just two days before the general election, scheduled for Tuesday, November 3.
For Michigan residents, the immediate change is the loss of a coordinated Democratic campaign effort, as Stevens was removed from scheduled unity events, including a Sunday appearance with Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC). Voters will notice this shift in the final campaign messaging and surrogate appearances leading up to Tuesday’s vote. Additionally, the move by Stevens' fiancé, Jason Turkish, to also support Rogers indicates the rift extends to the candidate's personal and political circles.
The endorsement sets a precedent for a high-profile sitting member of Congress to cross party lines following a contentious primary. It also highlights the internal party debate regarding U.S. policy toward Israel and how that issue influences candidate support. What happens next is the general election on Tuesday, November 3, which will determine if Rogers or El-Sayed wins the seat in the U.S. Senate.