• Analysis
Haley Stevens Endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race on Eve of Midterm Elections
Michigan congresswoman Haley Stevens, who lost the Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers hours after saying on Sunday she expected El-Sayed to win, on the eve of the midterm elections.
Announcement made at Perfecting church
Haley Stevens announced her endorsement of Mike Rogers in a video posted to X, after attending an event with Rogers at the predominantly Black Perfecting church in Detroit on Sunday. The appearance marked a stunning political moment in Michigan.
Rogers is Donald Trump's Senate pick, contesting a seat that could be crucial to Democratic control.
From expected El-Sayed win to Republican endorsement
The endorsement completed a same-day reversal. Earlier on Sunday, Stevens issued a statement saying she expected El-Sayed to win and telling people to vote. Hours later, she stood beside his Republican rival.
The road to that moment ran through months of withheld support:
- •Stevens lost to El-Sayed by a close margin in this year's primary.
- •For months she refused to openly back him, as did his other primary opponent, Mallory McMorrow.
- •Top Democrats brokered a truce between the two, and Stevens extended El-Sayed a tepid endorsement.
Why the joint appearance collapsed
Stevens had been scheduled to join El-Sayed at a predominantly Black church in Detroit's North End this weekend. Her appearance alongside him was preconditioned on his denouncing an outside group's campaign ad blaming US support of Israel for the rising cost of living; El-Sayed declined, accusing her of reopening settled primary debates. Israel divided Stevens and El-Sayed perhaps more than any other issue.
In the closing days of the campaign, El-Sayed's campaign formally disinvited Stevens from his campaign events.
Party reaction and reasons cited
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell told CNN she had told Stevens the Sunday appearance was not working. She called the tensions a distraction and added that "there's nothing to be gained by the two of them being in the same place".
"this isn't working"
Stevens, in one comment, said she supported Rogers' purported future investment in Black businesses. Democratic commentators also noted that Stevens' fiance, Jason Turkish, has publicly condemned El-Sayed while supporting Rogers; Turkish is vocally pro-Israel and has donated heavily to Democrats, but this year also donated to Republicans including Susan Collins.
The endorsement lands on the eve of the midterm elections, as Rogers contests a Michigan seat that could be crucial to Democratic control.
