DETROIT — U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens crossed party lines Sunday to endorse Republican candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan’s pivotal Senate race, delivering an extraordinary eleventh-hour blow to Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed just two days before Election Day.
Stevens, who lost a narrow primary to El-Sayed in August, announced her support for Rogers after joining him at a morning service at Perfecting Church in Detroit. In a short video posted online, the Democratic congresswoman said El-Sayed’s campaign had instructed her to stay away from upcoming political rallies, according to NBC News and NPR.
“Our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away,” Stevens said in the clip. “And he’s right, and that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today. I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign.”
A bitter dispute boils over
The surprise move followed days of escalating tension between the two Michigan Democrats. Stevens had demanded that El-Sayed denounce an outside group’s advertisement that linked U.S. financial aid to Israel with high domestic grocery costs, which she described as antisemitic. She also criticized his past campaign appearances with online streamer Hasan Piker, NPR reported.
While El-Sayed said he disagreed with the advertisement’s message and emphasized that Piker does not speak for him, he criticized Stevens for trying to relitigate their primary contest. His campaign subsequently asked Stevens not to participate in a planned Sunday unity event with Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., prompting Stevens to appear alongside Rogers instead.
Rogers told reporters he was honored to receive the congresswoman’s backing, framing the endorsement as a stand against hate, NBC News reported. Former President Donald Trump also praised Stevens on Truth Social, commending her for what he described as bravery.
The announcement quickly grew chaotic. While Stevens spoke to reporters alongside Rogers after the church service, a heckler shouted that she was a traitor, prompting aides to cut the news conference short, according to TheWrap.
El-Sayed dismissed the endorsement during a campaign stop in Detroit on Sunday, telling reporters that voters are focused on healthcare and education rather than political drama. “None of this matters,” El-Sayed said, adding that he does not think about Stevens.
Fierce backlash and staff resignations
The endorsement triggered immediate fallout within Stevens’ own team. Her longtime chief of staff, Justin German, announced that he and multiple other congressional aides resigned Sunday morning in protest, NBC News reported.
“Our team was shocked and heartbroken by Congresswoman Stevens’ decision to support Mike Rogers,” German said in a statement, urging voters to support El-Sayed and the rest of the Democratic ticket.
Democratic leaders sharply denounced Stevens across state and national party lines. Curtis Hertel, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, declared on social media that Stevens is no longer a member of the state party. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., rebuked her colleague for making the race about herself, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the move a “despicable betrayal,” according to NPR.
The race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is widely viewed as critical in determining control of the U.S. Senate. More than two million Michigan voters have already cast ballots, leaving it unclear how much the late defection will influence Tuesday’s election outcome.
