Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) believes Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) inadvertently gave Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed a political boost by endorsing his Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, at the last minute.
During an appearance on The Breakfast Club, Crockett said, "I think that Haley did Abdul a favor," adding that the controversy surrounding Stevens would provide El-Sayed with "a boost" in the election. She also speculated about Stevens' political future, saying, "I think that Haley is done with politics or she's decided she wants to be a Republican going forward. We will see what happens when we get back into Congress next week about how the caucus decides to deal with this situation."
Stevens endorsed Rogers on Sunday after appearing with him at a Detroit church event. The move came after a public feud with El-Sayed over a campaign ad that linked Israel to high grocery prices in the U.S. Stevens criticized El-Sayed for not condemning the ad strongly enough.
The two had been scheduled to appear together at a Detroit event with Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), but El-Sayed disinvited Stevens, asking her to stay away from his campaign events. Stevens then appeared with Rogers instead.
Stevens' reversal drew widespread backlash from Democrats, but El-Sayed shrugged it off, telling reporters, "At the end of the day, I actually don't think about Haley Stevens."
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton echoed Crockett's sentiment on CNN, saying, "I don't think it's going to have much impact. In fact, if it has any impact, I think it will end up helping Abdul."
The Michigan Senate race has tightened in recent days, with Decision Desk HQ rating it as "likely" for El-Sayed and the Cook Political Report shifting its rating from "toss-up" to "lean Democrat." This development comes as other competitive races draw attention, including Kentucky's high-stakes Senate race and Florida's crucial Senate contest.
Stevens' endorsement of Rogers has also fueled speculation about her own political trajectory, with some suggesting she may be positioning herself for a party switch or retirement. The fallout from her decision could have implications for Democratic caucus dynamics when Congress reconvenes.
As the midterm elections approach, the Michigan race has become a focal point for national Democrats, who are working to defend their narrow Senate majority. The controversy surrounding Stevens may ultimately rally Black voters and other key Democratic constituencies behind El-Sayed, as Crockett suggested.
