Former Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison sharply criticized Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) for her last-minute decision to endorse Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race, saying the move has left many voters feeling betrayed.
"I believe when you give your word, you keep it," Harrison said during an interview on NewsNation, a partner of The Hill. "I think there are a lot of folks who are feeling betrayed because Haley committed to supporting Abdul, and now she's reneged on that commitment."
Stevens, who had previously backed Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, announced her support for Rogers on Sunday after a public dispute with El-Sayed over a campaign advertisement that tied Israel to high U.S. grocery prices. Stevens argued that El-Sayed did not forcefully condemn the ad, which she saw as antisemitic.
The feud escalated when El-Sayed, who had been scheduled to appear with Stevens and Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) at a Detroit event, asked Stevens to stay away and disinvited her from the gathering.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, Stevens defended her reversal, saying, "once I concluded that Abdul El-Sayed is not fit to serve in the United States Senate, I had to confront who should." She added, "I chose Mike Rogers, with the hope that he can serve in the tradition of John McCain: a senator willing to put country before party and stand up to his own side when conscience requires it."
El-Sayed, when asked about Stevens' switch, told reporters, "At the end of the day, I actually don't think about Haley Stevens."
Harrison, during his NewsNation appearance, stressed the importance of keeping commitments: "You don't have to agree with every position a nominee takes, but commitment should mean something."
The endorsement has ignited a firestorm among Democrats, with some calling for party action. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has indicated the Democratic Caucus may weigh consequences for Stevens, as noted in this report on potential caucus action. The backlash has also been compared to the broader Democratic fury over the cross-party endorsement.
Former Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, who also appeared on NewsNation, expressed confidence that Republicans could win the Michigan Senate seat, saying, "I think we keep the Senate. I think we keep Ohio. I think we win Michigan." However, nonpartisan forecaster Decision Desk HQ currently rates El-Sayed as the likely winner in the race.
The situation has also drawn criticism from political commentators. Van Jones, a CNN contributor, said Stevens "flushed herself down the toilet" with the endorsement, as reported here. Even Stevens' own fiancé has reportedly backed Rogers, further splitting Michigan Democrats, according to this account.
As the race heats up, the question of loyalty and political principle remains central. Harrison's blunt assessment underscores the depth of the breach, as Democrats grapple with a rare instance of a sitting House member crossing party lines to support a Republican in a high-stakes Senate contest.
