Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorses Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate race
Democratic Representative Haley Stevens has officially endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in the Michigan race. The endorsement follows a public rift between Stevens and the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated her in the August 4, 2026, primary. Stevens, who remains a self-described proud Democrat, stated she could not support El-Sayed due to his political associations and his stance on Israel. The conflict escalated after Stevens was disinvited from a church event featuring El-Sayed, leading to her appearance alongside Rogers at Detroit's Perfecting Church on November 1, 2026.
Key points
- Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate.
- Stevens cited concerns over Abdul El-Sayed's political associations and his stance on Israel.
- The endorsement followed Stevens being disinvited from a church event with El-Sayed.
- The Michigan Senate race is considered a close contest that could impact control of the chamber.
What happened
Representative Haley Stevens, a Democrat from Michigan, announced her endorsement of Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on November 1, 2026. The announcement was made via a video posted on X following an appearance at Detroit's Perfecting Church, where she was present alongside Rogers.
Stevens stated that she could not support the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated her in the August 4, 2026, primary. She cited El-Sayed's backing from political streamer Hasan Piker and his positions regarding Israel as primary reasons for her decision.
Who said what
In her endorsement video, Stevens said that because El-Sayed indicated she was no longer welcome in his campaign, she was endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate. She emphasized that she remains a very proud Democrat.
Mike Rogers welcomed the support, stating that the endorsement is a statement about standing together against hate and the future of the state and country.
Representative Debbie Dingell, who helped organize the church event from which Stevens was disinvited, stated that Stevens was asked to skip the appearance because the ongoing dispute had become a distraction and upset the church's bishop.
Context
The tension between Stevens and El-Sayed has been marked by disagreements over rhetoric. Stevens has criticized El-Sayed for his perceived unwillingness to condemn antisemitism among some of his supporters, specifically referencing an outside group's advertisement that linked U.S. support for Israel to higher grocery prices. El-Sayed has stated that the advertisement was not produced by his campaign and that he disagrees with its contents.
Why it matters
The endorsement highlights internal Democratic divisions in a competitive Michigan Senate race that could influence which party controls the chamber.
What we know
- Haley Stevens is a Democratic Representative from Michigan.
- Mike Rogers is the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
- Abdul El-Sayed defeated Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary on August 4, 2026.
- Haley Stevens appeared at Detroit's Perfecting Church on November 1, 2026, where she was also present with Mike Rogers.
- Haley Stevens was disinvited from a planned church event with Abdul El-Sayed.
What remains unclear
- The full extent to which Stevens' endorsement will impact the final vote count in the Michigan Senate race remains unknown.
- The degree to which El-Sayed's campaign associations and policy stances will affect his support among the broader Democratic electorate is uncertain.
