In a stunning turn of events, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) has officially endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's hotly contested Senate race, a move that has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party and drawn sharp rebukes from colleagues and party leaders. The endorsement, announced less than 48 hours before Election Day, comes after weeks of public skepticism from Stevens about Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Stevens' decision is particularly striking given her extensive history of criticizing Rogers. In August, she called him "a rubber stamp for Donald Trump's dangerous agenda." In June, she condemned his "repulsive" record on LGBTQ+ rights, and in April, she referred to him as "MAGA Mike," citing controversies involving his campaign's hiring of individuals who praised Hitler. She also repeatedly attacked his stance on abortion rights, saying he "can't hide his terrible record."
The endorsement has been met with fury from Democrats, who see it as a betrayal of party unity. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer labeled it a "despicable betrayal," while Rep. Debbie Dingell described Stevens' subsequent CNN defense as "painful." The backlash has been so intense that House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is reportedly weighing action against Stevens within the caucus.
Stevens' pivot is especially perplexing because she had repeatedly stated she would support the Democratic ticket after losing the August primary to El-Sayed, despite outspending him 12 to 1. Her endorsement of Rogers comes with caveats, and she has avoided appearing on stage with El-Sayed. Instead, she has cited an independent ad from Cenk Uygur's Rebellion PAC, which criticized U.S. military aid to Israel and linked it to rising grocery prices, as a reason for her lack of support. El-Sayed has distanced himself from the ad, telling a reporter, "That ad was not made by me and I do not agree with the contents of that ad."
The timing of Stevens' moves has raised eyebrows. After former President Barack Obama's rally on Oct. 24 showcased Democratic momentum in Michigan, Stevens appeared on CNN the next day, questioning El-Sayed's campaign while avoiding a clear commitment to support him. On Oct. 26, she publicly criticized the PAC ad, even though the El-Sayed campaign had explicitly stated it was not affiliated with the campaign. Two days later, her fiancé, Jason Turkish, attended a Rogers event alongside Ted Cruz and endorsed Rogers, while Stevens continued to tell CNN she planned to vote for El-Sayed.
Just two days before a planned joint church appearance with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn, Stevens issued a lengthy statement demanding El-Sayed disavow the ad. Her fiancé then appeared on TMZ, suggesting she might reconsider her endorsement. The El-Sayed campaign responded by saying Stevens seemed "intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago," and reminded voters that AIPAC had spent heavily to defeat El-Sayed in the primary.
The fallout has been swift. Stevens' longtime chief of staff resigned on Sunday, and multiple team members have also left. Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow expressed bewilderment, saying, "I have no idea what the hell Haley Stevens is doing. This is a moment where we have to recognize the stakes."
Stevens' endorsement has also sparked a fundraising surge for El-Sayed, who raised $1.2 million in hours after the news broke. The Michigan Senate race has been shaken by this cross-party endorsement, which could have implications for the balance of power in the Senate.
Critics argue that Stevens' actions are a clear display of political opportunism, undermining her own party's nominee at a critical moment. As one observer noted, "Stevens cannot spend months telling voters that control of the Senate is on the line and that you want to fight for health care reforms and many of the same policies of El-Sayed, then spend the final days publicly undermining the very candidate you need to get those policies to the finish line."
The endorsement has also drawn reactions from outside the state, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling it "sub-optimal," and the RNC seizing on it as evidence that Michigan voters should note Stevens' backing of Rogers. The controversy shows no signs of abating as Election Day approaches.
