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Michigan Rep. Stevens Endorses Republican Rogers in Senate Race
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In Short: Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens stunned colleagues by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers in the Senate race against Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens announced Sunday that she is endorsing Republican Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate seat, a move that has shocked her Democratic colleagues. Stevens made the announcement in a video posted on X, where she said, '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,' as reported by CBS News, Fox News, NPR, Politico, NBC News, Breitbart, PBS, and Vinnews.
Stevens, who represents a large Jewish district in suburban Detroit, explained her decision as a moral one, stating, 'This was not a political decision. It’s a moral one,' according to Vinnews. She also emphasized her continued support for the Democratic Party, saying, 'I remain a very proud Democrat who loves Michigan,' as reported by Fox News and NBC News.
The endorsement comes as El-Sayed, a former Michigan public health official, faces a tight race with Rogers, an ex-congressman, for the seat held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters, as noted by PBS. Recent polling shows El-Sayed in a close contest with Rogers, with Democrats aiming to pick off four Senate seats nationwide to win a majority in the chamber, according to Washingtonsun.
Stevens' endorsement has caused significant turmoil within her own campaign. Her chief of staff, Justin German, and many other members of her staff resigned on Sunday, as reported by Washingtonexaminer. El-Sayed’s team had previously asked Stevens to stay away from his events, as first reported by POLITICO.
Meanwhile, Republican supporters have praised Stevens' decision. President Trump applauded Stevens for her endorsement, saying, 'Her following is huge, and the level of respect from the People of Michigan, especially our African American and Jewish populations, is virtually unparalleled,' as reported by Justthenews.
The Rogers campaign welcomed Stevens' endorsement, with Alyssa Brouillet, communications director for the Rogers campaign, stating, 'Rogers is meeting Detroiters where they’re at and talking about real solutions to the challenges they’re facing,' as reported by Bridgedetroit.
What this adds
Stevens' endorsement of Rogers is a significant shift in the race, as she was previously a strong supporter of the Democratic Party and had been expected to back El-Sayed. Her decision has caused a rift within the Democratic party and has drawn criticism from party leaders and supporters.
Background
Abdul El-Sayed is locked in a tight race against Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan's Senate seat.
What's confirmed
- “I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the US Senate. Today, I do not belong to Abdul’s campaign,” she said in a video posted on X.
- "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," Stevens said in a video posted on social media Sunday.
- Stevens said she remains "a very proud Democrat" who loves Michigan but could not support El-Sayed, citing his backing from political streamer Hasan Piker.
- “And he’s right, and that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today,” she said.
- Stevens joined Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit on Sunday morning, Breitbart News reported, the two arriving separately but sharing a warm embrace ahead of the service.
What's still developing
- Pramila Jayapal, of Washington state, a former leader of the progressive caucus, implored Michiganders to “stay focused on the race at hand, and cast their ballots” for El-Sayed.
- Crowley is campaigning on Sunday with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and on Monday he will be with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg The Justice Department has filed notice it will appeal a federal judge’s ruling dismissing its challenge to Alaska’s certification of the U.S. Senate race if Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan loses.
- Tom Tiffany, a member of Congress the past six years, said after a rally Sunday in heavily Democratic Madison, Wisconsin, that he can “feel” the momentum of the race breaking for him.
- “Let’s be clear about one thing,” Jeffries said in a post.
- Outside a "Souls to the Polls" event at a church in Detroit, El-Sayed told reporters that he doesn't think about Stevens and said voters do not either.
- Stevens, who represents a large Jewish district in suburban Detroit, unloaded on El-Sayed Friday in a series of interviews with the New York Times published early Saturday morning.