Stevens endorses Rogers amid rift with El-Sayed
Haley Stevens, who had the support of the Senate Democrats' campaign arm in the primary, had previously said she was supporting the Democratic ticket.
Key points
- Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday.
- Stevens cited a rift with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed over an outside group's ad.
- Stevens' chief of staff resigned and other staff members are expected to follow.
Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday, amid a rift with Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed that has become a central issue in the final stretch before Election Day. Stevens appeared alongside Rogers at a Detroit church on Sunday.
In a video posted on social media Sunday, Stevens said El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee, had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign and that she should stay away. "And that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today," she said.
Rift over ad
Stevens, who narrowly lost to El-Sayed in Michigan's Democratic primary in August, last week called on El-Sayed to condemn an outside group's ad linking U.S. military aid to Israel to rising grocery prices, which she characterized as antisemitic. El-Sayed said the ad "was not made by me" and that he disagrees with its contents, while accusing Stevens of relitigating a primary that ended three months ago.
Rogers praised Stevens on Friday for calling on El-Sayed to denounce the ad and for expressing concerns raised by Michigan Jewish voters. After appearing with Stevens on Sunday, Rogers said he was honored to receive her support and that it was more about standing together against hate than anything else.
Our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away, and he's right.
— Haley Stevens
Reactions and staff resignations
Top Democrats expressed continued support for El-Sayed, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called Stevens' move a "despicable betrayal." Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel posted that Stevens is not a current member of the party and will not be in the future. President Trump praised Stevens on Truth Social, and House Speaker Mike Johnson said he spoke to Stevens after the endorsement and encouraged her to stay safe and keep speaking the truth.
Ahead of the endorsement, Stevens' longtime chief of staff Justin German resigned, with a number of staff members expected to follow. In a statement, German said he and the team are "shocked and heartbroken" by her decision and are wholeheartedly supporting El-Sayed. Stevens said she is not trying to harm the Democratic Party and that it is her personal and private decision.
