Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday after being publicly disinvited from a unity event by her party's own nominee, Abdul El-Sayed. The endorsement, which came days before the crucial US midterm elections, marks a dramatic breakdown in party unity.
The Michigan Senate race is considered the Republicans' best opportunity to flip a Senate seat, making it critical for control of the Senate. In August, El-Sayed, a leading Democratic critic of Israel, defeated Stevens in a bitter primary centred on disagreements over Israel. AIPAC, which supported Stevens in the primary, spent at least $30 million attacking El-Sayed during the primary and began spending more in October.
The account, based on interviews with more than a dozen people involved in or briefed on the talks, as well as public statements, comes from a New York Times report published in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.
The most recent breakdown began when Stevens demanded that El-Sayed disavow a PAC ad she called antisemitic. After he condemned the ad on Saturday, he also told reporters he did not want her at a planned unity event. "I don't want any distractions," El-Sayed said.
The next morning, Stevens attended the same church with Rogers, sat in the second pew, and posted a video endorsing him. "I don't belong in Abdul's campaign," she said. After the service, she told reporters, "I woke up this morning, and I decided to go to church. I'm here with the person who I am voting for for United States Senate, and that is Mike Rogers."
The endorsement set off a wave of reactions. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called it "a despicable betrayal." Representative Jamie Raskin, who had assured voters Stevens remained on board, said he was "totally blindsided." The Michigan Democratic Party chair announced Stevens was kicked out of the party.
Representative James Clyburn, a powerbroker who had been asked to invite both Stevens and El-Sayed to church, said he was “disappointed” but understood. El-Sayed brushed off the defection. “None of this matters,” he said after attending the church service.
Republicans celebrated. President Donald Trump wrote on social media, "Wow, this is BIG!" Rogers said he was "honoured" to have Stevens' support.
According to a New York Times/Siena University poll released Sunday, El-Sayed holds an 11-point lead over Rogers.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The defection could tip the balance in a race that is critical for Senate control, potentially handing a seat to Republicans.
- The public feud underscores deep internal divisions within the Democratic Party over the Israel-Palestine conflict, which may have long-term consequences for party unity.
- The episode may depress Democratic turnout in Michigan and damage the party's brand ahead of a national election.
Background
The Michigan Senate seat is one of the most competitive in the 2026 midterms. The race has been defined by the primary clash in August between Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens, which centered on disagreements over US support for Israel. Despite attempts at unity, the party has struggled to bridge the personal and policy differences. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent tens of millions attacking El-Sayed during the primary and after.
Key Perspectives
- Haley Stevens: Said she was "not welcome" and that she did not belong in El-Sayed's campaign. She endorsed Rogers because "I woke up this morning, and I decided to go to church. I'm here with the person who I am voting for for United States Senate, and that is Mike Rogers."
- Abdul El-Sayed: Dismissed the defection, saying "None of this matters" and that Stevens was a distraction. His campaign believed no amount of acquiescence would satisfy her.
- Chuck Schumer (Senate Democratic leader): Called the endorsement "a despicable betrayal."
- Michigan Democratic Party chair: Announced Stevens had been kicked out of the party.
- Mike Rogers: Said he was "honoured" to have her support and described the endorsement as a surprise.
- Donald Trump: Wrote "Wow, this is BIG!" on his social media site, celebrating the Democratic infighting.
- Lonnie Scott (Michigan Democratic operative): Called the situation "unfortunate" and "a spectacle" days before the election.
What to Watch
- The outcome of the Michigan Senate race on Tuesday and whether Stevens' endorsement shifts the vote.
- The fallout within the Democratic Party: potential challenges to El-Sayed's leadership if elected, or further splitting.
- Whether other Democrats follow Stevens' lead or distance themselves from her.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHaley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in the Senate race after El-Sayed publicly said he did not want her at the event.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “he no longer wanted Stevens to join him at a Detroit church on Sunday. ... So Stevens on Sunday did what she had been telling everyone she would not do. She endorsed former congressman Mike Rogers”
- SupportedThe summary says Stevens cited El-Sayed’s snub and Democrats reacted to her endorsement.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Abdul made very clear that I was not welcome in his campaign, that he didn’t need me there, that he didn’t want me there,” Stevens said”
- SupportedEl-Sayed said, “I don’t want any distractions,” when discussing Stevens appearing with him.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““I don’t want any distractions,” El-Sayed said after a rally outside Detroit.”
- SupportedStevens said, “I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign,” she said.”
- SupportedAfter the service, Stevens said she had decided to go to church and was there with the person she would vote for: Mike Rogers.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““I woke up this morning, and I decided to go to church,” Stevens said. “I’m here with the person who I am voting for for United States Senate, and that is Mike Rogers.””
- SupportedSchumer called Stevens’s endorsement “a despicable betrayal.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “New York senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, who privately backed Stevens in the primary, called it “a despicable betrayal”.”
- SupportedRaskin said he was “totally blindsided.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Raskin said he was “totally blindsided”.”
- SupportedEl-Sayed said, “None of this matters,” after attending the church service.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““None of this matters,” he said after attending the church service where he and Stevens were once scheduled to appear together.”
- SupportedTrump wrote, “Wow, this is BIG!” on social media.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Wow, this is BIG!” US President Donald Trump wrote on his social media site.”
- SupportedRogers said he was “honoured” to have Stevens’s support.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Rogers, standing with Stevens after church in Detroit, declared himself “honoured” to have her support”
- SupportedAIPAC spent at least $30 million attacking El-Sayed during the primary and began spending more in October.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which supported her in the primary, spent at least $US30 million ($43 million) attacking El-Sayed during the primary and began spending more starting in October.”
- SupportedA New York Times/Siena University poll released Sunday showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by 11 points.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Later in the day, a poll from The New York Times and Siena University showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by 11 percentage points.”