US Representative Haley Stevens backs Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers

UPDATE - follow-up to Stevens endorses Rodgers amid rift with El-Sayed: Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in the final stretch before Election Day following a public dispute with her party's Senate nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.

The Endorsement

Stevens announced her support for Rogers in a social media video on Sunday after stating that El-Sayed told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign and should stay away. The two appeared together at a Detroit church on Sunday morning. Rogers said he received a call from Stevens earlier that morning to arrange the joint appearance. Stevens stated that her decision is personal and private, emphasizing that she remains a Democrat and is not turning her back on the party.

The Underlying Rift

Relations soured after Stevens called on El-Sayed last week to condemn an outside group's campaign ad linking U.S. military aid to Israel to rising grocery prices, which she labeled as antisemitic. El-Sayed accused Stevens of relitigating their August Democratic primary, which Stevens narrowly lost despite heavy backing from the Senate Democrats' campaign arm. While El-Sayed stated the ad was not made by him and that he disagrees with its contents, he later said he preferred Stevens not attend a scheduled Sunday unity event with South Carolina Representative Jim Clyburn.

Reactions

Top Democrats heavily criticized the move, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling it a despicable betrayal and reaffirming his support for El-Sayed. Michigan Democratic Representative Debbie Dingell dismissed Stevens' action as an effort to get attention and urged voters to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Meanwhile, President Trump praised Stevens on Truth Social for showing great loyalty, and Republican National Committee spokesman Hunter Lovell described the endorsement as part of a growing coalition for Rogers against El-Sayed.

Context

Endorsements across party lines are rare in high-stakes Senate races, particularly during the final days of a campaign when party unity is typically prioritized. Such public fractures often draw intense national attention and can shift voter focus away from policy debates toward internal party conflicts.