Home · Politics · Nov 2 archive
Michigan Dem claims Stevens shot down Rogers endorsement rumor hours before turning on El-Sayed
· ConfirmedShare on
In Short: Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race, drawing sharp criticism from party leaders.
Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race on Sunday, just two days before the election, according to FOX 2 Detroit and The Jerusalem Post. The move came after a feud with El-Sayed over an outside group’s campaign ad that blamed rising prices on US support for Israel, as reported by The Guardian.
Stevens' endorsement of Rogers, a Republican, has caused significant backlash within the Democratic party. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., told CNN that Stevens had told her the reports of her endorsing Rogers were 'a rumor' and 'not true,' as per Fox News. However, Dingell later said on CNN that Stevens' handling of the endorsement had 'probably permanently hurt her,' according to Newsweek.
Stevens' decision to endorse Rogers was a dramatic reversal from her previous stance. She had previously said her priority was defeating Rogers, regardless of who won the Democratic primary, as reported by WOAI and News4Sanantonio. Stevens cited El-Sayed's ties to political streamer Hasan Piker, whose remarks concerning Jewish people and Israel sparked backlash in August, as noted by NPR.
The endorsement has also drawn criticism from senior party figures and members of her own staff, as reported by Newsweek and WOAI. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the move 'a despicable betrayal,' and several members of Stevens’s staff resigned, including her chief of staff, according to Democracy Now! And Newsweek.
Stevens defended her decision in a video posted on X, saying, 'I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the US Senate. Today, I do not belong to Abdul’s campaign,' as reported by Al Jazeera. She added that she was now 'rock solid' in her choice to back Rogers, although she insisted, 'I still love my party a whole lot,' as per the BBC.
El-Sayed distanced himself from Stevens after she endorsed Rogers, as reported by WBMA. He told reporters he was focused on the problems facing people in the state, according to the BBC. El-Sayed had previously offered his endorsement to Stevens after she conceded defeat to him during a closely-fought primary contest in August, as noted by the BBC.
The endorsement has also drawn attention from President Donald Trump, who praised Stevens in a Truth Social post on Sunday, writing, 'Wow, this is BIG!' as reported by Breitbart. Trump has repeatedly attacked El-Sayed, who is contesting the Michigan Senate race against Rogers, as noted by Outlookindia.
Despite the backlash, Stevens' endorsement of Rogers has not gone unnoticed. El-Sayed raked in $1.2 million in the four hours after Stevens backed Rogers, marking his second-best fundraising day since winning the Democratic primary nomination, as reported by the Washingtonexaminer.
The Senate race in Michigan is closely watched, with Republicans currently holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, as reported by Fox News and Newsweek. Polling suggests El-Sayed is pulling ahead of Rogers by about five to seven percentage points in the last week, as noted by Al Jazeera.
What this adds
The sources have not established the exact moment Stevens changed her mind, though she said the decision had been building up for her.
What's confirmed
- Stevens announced her endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers against Democrat Abul El-Sayed for the Michigan Senate seat Sunday, just a little over 48 hours from Election Day.
- Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority.
- Democratic Representative Haley Stevens is facing fierce backlash from senior party figures and members of her own staff after endorsing Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s closely watched Senate race on Sunday.
- Moss is running for the seat in the US House that Stevens abandoned for her unsuccessful run against El-Sayed for the Democratic Senate nomination.
- The endorsement marks a dramatic reversal for Stevens, who previously said her priority was defeating Rogers, regardless of who won the Democratic primary.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the move “a despicable betrayal,” and several members of Stevens’s staff resigned, including her chief of staff.
What's still developing
- "We are dismayed that Congresswoman Haley Stevens has revealed herself to be a sellout who used Black Michiganders for a political stunt," he posted on X.
- "I'm calling on that, I've continued to call on that." El-Sayed distanced himself from Piker in the following weeks, but he also stepped away from Stevens as she made plain the differences between herself and the nominee.
- U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina), center left, speaks during a press conference supporting U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, center right, on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 at North End Church of God in Christ in Detroit, Mich. (Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance) DETROIT — Key Democrats said Sunday they would not let Haley Stevens’ endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers divide the party ahead of Tuesday’s election.
- Bawdy Body: Trump Makes Lewd Remark On Nicki Minaj, Apologises Trump Uses 9/11 And Flight 93 To Target Muslim Candidate Abdul El-Sayed In Michigan US Midterm Elections: Trump To Rally In Michigan For Mike Rogers US Midterms 2026: Republicans Turn ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ Claims Into Campaign Ammo Against El-Sayed The remarks came amid Trump's repeated attacks on Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who is contesting the Michigan Senate race against Republican Mike Rogers.
- In her interview with the network the following day, Stevens did not provide her specific rationale, saying: "I changed my mind. (El-Sayed) said, 'Hey, I don't need your endorsement.' That's fine. Why the anger. Why the frustration?"
- Ahead of the US midterm elections on Tuesday, Stevens gave her last-minute backing to Republican Mike Rogers, sparking widespread condemnation from her Democratic colleagues.
- Dingell spoke during an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Sunday moments after Stevens went on the same show to defend her decision, the Hill reported.