Democrat endorses Republican candidate in key Michigan Senate race as party spat erupts
The move by Haley Stevens, who lost out on the Democratic Senate nomination to Abdul El-Sayed, was called a "despicable betrayal" by one top Democrat.
Key points
- Michigan Democratic congresswoman Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in the state's US Senate race, days after losing the Democratic nomination to Abdul El-Sayed.
- Democratic leaders condemned the endorsement, with Chuck Schumer calling it "a despicable betrayal" and Michigan party chair Curtis Hertel saying she had abandoned what she claims to care about.
- The Michigan Senate race is seen as one of the tightest in Tuesday's midterms and could help decide which party controls the Senate.
Michigan congresswoman Haley Stevens, a Democrat, has endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in the state's US Senate race, escalating a public feud with her own party's nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, just days before the election. Stevens appeared alongside Rogers on Sunday and announced the endorsement in a video posted to X.
Stevens, a centrist who lost the Democratic nomination to the left-wing El-Sayed earlier this year, said in the video that "Who we are as Michiganders is not hate" and that she was backing Rogers. The move drew swift condemnation from fellow Democrats, and many of her staff reportedly resigned immediately after the announcement.
What Democrats said
Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer called the endorsement "a despicable betrayal". Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel said in a statement that Stevens' decision "shows that she has abandoned everything she claims to care about" and rejected efforts to divide the party.
El-Sayed told reporters he was focused on the problems Michiganders face, saying on Sunday: "At the end of the day, I don't think about Haley Stevens. None of this matters." Stevens said El-Sayed had made clear she was not welcome in his campaign.
I don't know Haley. I've never met Haley. But Haley said what few people were willing to say
— Donald Trump
Republican reaction and race stakes
Rogers welcomed the endorsement and said it showed "courage". President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Iowa, called Stevens "very brave" and said he would like her to join the Republican Party.
The Michigan seat is currently held by a retiring Democrat, and the last Republican elected to it was in 1994. Analysts consider the contest one of the tightest in Tuesday's midterms; Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win Senate control, and a loss in Michigan would leave them needing five.
