Democratic Rep. Stevens Endorses Republican Rogers in Michigan Senate Race
In a stunning political shift just one day before Tuesday's midterm elections, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan's closely watched Senate race, abandoning her support for Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. The endorsement came after a bitter dispute between Stevens and El-Sayed's campaign, which uninvited her from a campaign event she had been scheduled to attend, citing a dispute over a controversial advertisement. Stevens told reporters and CNN that her decision was 'a weight off my shoulders,' though she emphasized she would still vote for Democrats up and down the ballot and hopes the party retains Senate control. The move shocked party officials and prompted her chief of staff to resign. El-Sayed's campaign raised 1.2 million dollars in the hours following the endorsement. The Michigan Senate race is widely viewed as critical to determining which party will control the Senate after Tuesday's election.
Key facts
- Haley Stevens, Democratic U.S. Representative from Michigan, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, November 1, 2026
- Stevens had previously committed to voting for Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee, according to her statements to The New York Times on Friday
- El-Sayed's campaign uninvited Stevens from a scheduled campaign event following a dispute over an advertisement Stevens claimed was antisemitic
- Stevens' chief of staff of eight years, Justin German, resigned in protest on Sunday morning
- El-Sayed's campaign raised $1.2 million in fundraising in the hours immediately after Stevens' endorsement announcement
- More than 2.3 million Michigan voters had already cast ballots before Election Day, representing 31.2% of active registered voters
- The Michigan Senate race is expected to determine control of the U.S. Senate, with Democrats needing a net gain of four seats nationally to reach 51 and take control
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning outlets highlighted this as a shocking betrayal that exposes divisions within the Democratic Party just before a critical election. They emphasized the role of an allegedly antisemitic advertisement in triggering the conflict and characterized Stevens' action as potentially damaging to Democratic chances in a battleground state.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning outlets, particularly Fox News, emphasized this as evidence of Democratic dysfunction and portrayed it positively for Republicans. They highlighted Trump's reaction expressing he'd 'love' to see Stevens join the Republican Party, framing it as validating Republican messaging about the Democratic Party.
Limits of this briefing
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Sources
- NBC News: Rep. Haley Stevens endorses GOP candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate race Centre
- Al Jazeera: Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens endorses Republican Senate candidate Centre
- Fox News: 2026 Midterms: Haley Stevens backs Mike Rogers in Michigan Right
- NPR: Haley Stevens endorses GOP candidate in Michigan Senate race, spurning Abdul El-Sayed Centre
- CBC: 'Despicable betrayal': Democrats stunned after Michigan congresswoman endorses Republican for Senate Centre