Schumer Calls Stevens Endorsement a ‘Despicable Betrayal’ as Staff Resign
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has sharply condemned former Rep. Haley Stevens’ endorsement of Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, calling it a “despicable betrayal.” The rebuke comes after Stevens, who narrowly lost the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed in August, announced her support for Rogers following a feud with the El-Sayed campaign over an outside group’s ad that blamed the high cost of living on U.S. support for Israel. Schumer, who had backed Stevens during the primary, reaffirmed his support for El-Sayed despite their policy differences, including on Israel.nnThe controversy deepened as several staff members resigned in protest of Stevens’ decision. According to CBS News, El-Sayed had asked Stevens to stay away from remaining campaign events, citing two sources. Stevens, for her part, insisted she still wanted Democrats to win the majority on Election Day, saying, “I’m just casting my one vote this way.” Her endorsement of Rogers, a Republican, has drawn intense criticism from within her own party, with Schumer leading the charge.nnSchumer’s condemnation was unequivocal: “One candidate represents a party that has stoked hatred, gutted anti-discrimination efforts and remained silent in the face of President Trump’s corruption and authoritarianism,” he said, referring to El-Sayed. The Senate minority leader’s statement underscores the deep divisions within the Democratic Party over the endorsement and the broader tensions surrounding the Senate race in Michigan.nnStevens’ relationship with El-Sayed deteriorated rapidly after the primary. Although she initially endorsed him, the two fell out over the ad, which El-Sayed’s campaign did not disavow. The endorsement of Rogers, a former congressman and Trump-backed candidate, has been seen by many Democrats as a bridge too far. Schumer’s public rebuke and the staff resignations highlight the seriousness with which party leaders view the breach. With the general election approaching, the incident threatens to undermine Democratic unity in a key battleground state. El-Sayed, for his part, has sought to distance himself from the controversy, focusing on his own campaign. The coming days will reveal whether the party can heal the rift or whether Stevens’ endorsement will have lasting consequences for
Shimanta Das 
