Michigan Senate race fractures days before vote
Former primary rival Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers after being uninvited to a joint event with Abdul El-Sayed, triggering a public split among Democrats.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
Congresswoman Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, a move that fractured the Democratic base in Michigan just days before the general election. The former primary rival announced her support after attending a church service with Rogers in Detroit, a location that highlighted the widening gap between her and the party nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.
Stevens, who lost the August primary to El-Sayed by a slim margin, said she was told she was no longer welcome in his campaign. In a video announcing the endorsement, she stated, “Our Democratic nominee for Senate said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away.” She added that this exclusion justified her decision to back the Trump-backed candidate.
El-Sayed dismissed the news when reporters asked about it later Sunday. He said he was focused on the high cost of living and other issues voters care about. “At the end of the day I actually don’t think about Haley Stevens,” El-Sayed said. He later added, “None of this matters.”
The split between the two Democrats has been driven by differences over Israel and external campaign advertisements. Stevens is a supporter of Israel, while El-Sayed has criticized the U.S. ally. Tensions escalated last week when Stevens urged El-Sayed to condemn an ad by an independent left-wing group that linked U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices. El-Sayed responded by saying the ad was not made by his campaign and that he did not agree with its contents.
Plans for a joint appearance between Stevens and El-Sayed collapsed after a dispute over the ad. Rep. Debbie Dingell, who helped organize the event, said she asked Stevens not to attend because the situation had become distracting. “I’m the one who pulled it because it had become way too distracting,” Dingell said. “This is not how I was going to spend my weekend before the election, to be perfectly frank.”
Stevens’ decision stunned party officials and led to internal turmoil within her team. Her longtime chief of staff resigned, and other staff members are expected to follow. The aide said in a statement, “We are shocked and heartbroken.” State Party Chair Curtis Hertel wrote that Stevens has abandoned her claims and is no longer a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who supported Stevens in the primary, denounced the endorsement. “This is a despicable betrayal from Rep. Stevens,” Schumer wrote in a social media post. Trump praised the move on Truth Social, calling Stevens a “Highly Respected Democrat” and stating that her loyalty to Michigan residents showed bravery.
The race for the seat held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters is vital for the Democratic Party's effort to win a majority in the Senate. Early voting began on October 24. More than 1.8 million people had voted in Michigan as of Friday. In the 2022 midterm election, a record 4.5 million ballots were cast in the state.
