Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens Backs GOP Senate Nominee Mike Rogers

Democratic Representative Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan's closely-fought US Senate contest, breaking with her own party's nominee Abdul El-Sayed just days before the vote. Stevens made a surprise appearance alongside Rogers at a Detroit church on Sunday following a bitter dispute with El-Sayed. According to CNN, Stevens' chief of staff and communications director have both quit over the move, and the state Democratic Party swiftly rebuked the lawmaker. Stevens stated in a video on X that she does not belong in El-Sayed's campaign, citing what she described as hate coming from the Democratic nominee. The pair had previously clashed publicly over a campaign advert from a liberal group that blamed Israel for high food prices, which El-Sayed criticised while maintaining he had nothing to do with it. Stevens also noted that El-Sayed told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign after she was asked not to attend a scheduled joint appearance. Addressing reporters, Stevens denied her endorsement was anti-Muslim and said she was sure Rogers was working with Muslim American communities in the state. Republicans have increasingly targeted El-Sayed's faith in the final weeks of the race, with President Donald Trump repeatedly referring to him as Mohammed and falsely calling him a jihadist at rallies. Rogers previously told CNN he does not speak for the president and has not called El-Sayed a terrorist, though he accused his rival of aligning with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Context

Michigan's Senate race is widely viewed as one of the tightest and most important battleground contests in the midterm elections, which will ultimately decide control of the US Congress. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and national party leaders have maintained their full support for El-Sayed as the campaign enters its final hours. It remains unclear whether primary voters who once backed Stevens will follow her lead and abandon the Democratic ticket.