Stevens Backs Republican Rogers in Michigan Senate Race

Congresswoman Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for the US Senate on Sunday, selecting her former primary opponent's rival just two days before Michigan voters head to the polls. The move places Stevens in direct conflict with her own party's nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, in a race that could determine Senate control.

Stevens lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed in August. She had publicly pledged support for him through the following week, stating on Wednesday that she still wanted him to win. The shift in her position followed a dispute over an advertisement released by Rebellion PAC, an independent group backing El-Sayed. The ad linked US military aid to Israel with grocery costs, depicting a couple putting back a carton of eggs to save money for "killing Palestinians".

Stevens labeled the ad anti-Semitic and demanded El-Sayed condemn it. He stated the ad was not produced by his campaign and argued that Stevens was relitigating the primary. Tensions escalated when Stevens was uninvited from a church service scheduled to show party unity. Stevens said in a video on X that El-Sayed told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign. "And he's right. And that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today," she said.

Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, who organized the event, told The Associated Press that she asked Stevens not to attend because the situation had become too distracting. Stevens also criticized El-Sayed's association with political streamer Hasan Piker. She told reporters on Sunday, with Rogers standing beside her: "We can't stand with hate. We can't stand with Hasan Piker". Stevens said she remains a Democrat and plans to vote for Democratic candidates in 90 percent of races on her ballot, but her Senate vote goes to Rogers.

The endorsement has triggered reactions from senior party figures. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the move a "despicable betrayal" while maintaining that Democrats remain united behind El-Sayed. He told reporters he is less interested in the politics of the situation than the policy issues, urging voters to focus on healthcare and civil rights. Trump celebrated the decision on Truth Social, writing: "Wow, this is BIG! Haley said what few people are willing to say. It's a thing called bravery."

Stevens’s chief of staff, Justin German, announced his resignation along with several other staff members. German said in a statement: "We are shocked and heartbroken by Congresswoman Stevens’s decision to support Mike Rogers." The race pits El-Sayed against Rogers for the seat of retiring Senator Gary Peters. Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress.

Stevens defeated El-Sayed in Wayne and Oakland counties during the primary, drawing support from Black and Jewish voters. Those counties are Democratic strongholds where turnout could decide the result. Early voting began on October 24, before the latest dispute erupted. Polling from Reuters suggests El-Sayed has largely consolidated Democratic support, though the impact of Stevens's switch remains a key variable for Tuesday's vote.