Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race, Shaking Up Final Stretch
In a stunning turn of events just days before the election, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan’s highly competitive Senate race. The endorsement, announced Sunday, comes after Stevens was uninvited from a joint event with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, whom she narrowly lost to in the August primary. Stevens appeared alongside Rogers at a Detroit church service, a show of support for President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate that has infuriated Democratic allies of El-Sayed and exposed deep intraparty tensions in a race that could determine control of the Senate.
The endorsement follows an escalating dispute between Stevens and El-Sayed over Israel and antisemitism. During the bitter primary, Stevens accused El-Sayed of antisemitism, and the two released dueling critical public statements leading up to the rally. El-Sayed responded by accusing Stevens of being “intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago.” The controversy was further fueled by the appearance of prominent left-wing streamer Piker, whose rhetoric about Israel and Jews has drawn accusations of antisemitism, at campaign events with El-Sayed during the primary. Stevens’ criticism of El-Sayed and her appearance with Rogers have prompted concerns among Democrats that the spat is a distraction from one of the most competitive Senate races in the country.
Democratic allies of El-Sayed have spent the weekend responding to Stevens’ criticisms, with one supporter who backed Stevens in the primary but endorsed El-Sayed afterward stating, “Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed.” The remark underscores the party’s effort to project unity despite the public rift. The endorsement of Rogers by a sitting Democratic congresswoman in the final stages of a top battleground race is a major shake-up that could sway undecided voters and impact the balance of power on Capitol Hill. With the election just days away, the focus now shifts to whether this intraparty clash will energize or alienate key constituencies in a state that remains a focal point for both parties.
Shimanta Das 
