Haley Stevens Endorses Mike Rogers for Michigan Senate

Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate on Sunday, a move that split the Democratic coalition in Michigan just days before the general election. Stevens, who lost the August primary to Abdul El-Sayed by a narrow margin, made the announcement after attending a church service with Rogers in Detroit.

The endorsement follows a dispute in which El-Sayed's campaign told Stevens she was no longer welcome at a joint event. Stevens confirmed the rejection in a video message, stating that the Democratic nominee told her to stay away. She said, “And he’s right. And that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today.” The announcement caused her top aide to resign.

El-Sayed dismissed the news when asked by reporters later on Sunday. He said he is focused on the cost of living and other voter priorities. “At the end of the day I actually don’t think about Haley Stevens,” he said. He added that none of the recent drama matters to his campaign.

Tensions between the two Democrats have persisted since the primary. Stevens is a strong supporter of Israel, while El-Sayed has been a vocal critic of the U.S. ally. El-Sayed has also faced criticism for past comments on a synagogue attack in Michigan and for appearing with streamer Hasan Piker. These differences complicated efforts to unify the party in key strongholds for Black and Jewish voters.

Sunday was intended to be a day of unity. Stevens instead joined Rogers and his wife Kristi at Perfecting Church. El-Sayed campaigned at a different church a few miles away, where he appeared with Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. The Associated Press covered both services as the split became public.

State Party Chair Curtis Hertel criticized Stevens for abandoning her stated values. He wrote that the party rejects attempts to divide Democrats and will not be deterred by eleventh-hour distractions. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who supported Stevens in the primary, called the endorsement a despicable betrayal in a social media post.

Rep. Debbie Dingell, who helped organize the planned joint appearance, said she asked Stevens not to attend because the situation had become too distracting. Dingell said Stevens agreed to the request. “This is not how I was going to spend my weekend before the election, to be perfectly frank,” Dingell said.

Early voting began on October 24, before the latest tensions emerged. This timing complicates the effort to deliver a unified message in areas like Detroit, where turnout is decisive. Stevens won Wayne County and Oakland County in the primary, regions that are critical for the Democratic coalition.

The Democratic primary was marked by personal attacks and tens of millions of dollars in outside spending. El-Sayed objected to an ad from an outside group that accused him of disrespecting women. Stevens had pledged to help El-Sayed after the primary, but the two have not appeared together publicly since a unity breakfast held two days after his win.

Last week, Stevens’ fiancé told the Detroit News he would vote for Rogers. Stevens later appeared on CNN to reaffirm support for El-Sayed but urged his campaign to call out the hate. On Friday, Stevens demanded that El-Sayed condemn an ad from an independent left-wing group that linked U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices. El-Sayed responded by saying the ad was not from his campaign and that he did not agree with its contents.

President Donald Trump praised Stevens in a Truth Social post, calling her a highly respected Democrat. He said her loyalty to the people of Michigan was unprecedented and described her decision as an act of bravery. Hunter Lovell, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, said Democrats who feel abandoned by El-Sayed have a home with Rogers.

Rogers stood beside Stevens at the church service and said he was honored by her support. Stevens told reporters that she is not turning her back on Democrats, but that it is about this one vote. The race remains tight, with El-Sayed and Rogers competing for the seat held by retiring Sen. Gary Peters.