Haley Stevens endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate race

Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Nov. 1, less than 48 hours before Election Day, breaking with her party’s nominee, Abdul El-Sayed. The Haley Stevens endorses Mike Rogers decision came in a closely contested race for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, a contest national outlets described as relevant to control of the Senate.

Stevens, who lost the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed in August, announced her support for Rogers in a video on Sunday after appearing with him at a Detroit church service, according to NBC News and the Associated Press. She had previously said she would back the Democratic ticket.

In the video, Stevens said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign and should stay away. She said that was why she was endorsing Rogers. Rogers said he was honoured by her support, according to the Associated Press.

Why did Haley Stevens endorse Mike Rogers?

The endorsement followed a public dispute between Stevens and El-Sayed over an advertisement from an outside group that tied grocery affordability to US support for Israel. Stevens said the ad was antisemitic and pressed El-Sayed to condemn it, NBC News reported.

El-Sayed’s campaign said it had no involvement with the advertisement and criticised its contents, according to CNBC and NPR. The dispute also reflected longer-running differences between the two Democrats over Israel. Stevens supports Israel, while El-Sayed has described Israel’s conduct in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks as genocide, CNBC reported.

Stevens also said she did not stand with political commentator Hasan Piker, who campaigned with El-Sayed during the primary. NPR reported that El-Sayed had previously said Piker did not speak for his campaign after controversy over Piker’s remarks, while stopping short of disavowing him.

Before the break, Stevens and El-Sayed had been expected to attend a Detroit church event with other Democratic figures, including Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. The gathering was intended to show party unity before the election, the Associated Press reported. Stevens did not attend; she instead joined Rogers at Perfecting Church, while El-Sayed campaigned at another church.

How did El-Sayed and Democrats respond?

El-Sayed dismissed the endorsement and said his attention was on families’ concerns about schools, food costs and medical bills. He said he did not think about Stevens, according to CNBC and NPR.

Democratic leaders criticised Stevens’ decision. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called it a “despicable betrayal,” according to the Associated Press. Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel also condemned the endorsement.

The fallout extended to Stevens’ office. Her longtime chief of staff resigned, the Associated Press reported, and CNBC reported that staff members in her congressional office quit following the announcement. The reporting did not establish whether the endorsement changed voter preferences or the outcome of the election.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.