U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), who has represented Michigan’s 11th Congressional District since January 2019, stunned her party on Sunday by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed—just two days before Election Day. Stevens is not seeking reelection to the House, and her current term ends January 3, 2027.
In a video posted to social media after appearing with Rogers at a Detroit church service, Stevens explained her decision:
“Our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away. And he’s right, and that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today.”
She also criticized what she described as “hate” coming from the Democratic nominee’s side of the race. Despite endorsing a Republican, Stevens emphasized that she remains “still a very proud Democrat” and continues to stand by the positions she has supported in Congress.
Michigan Democratic Party leadership rejected the move outright. Party Chair Curtis Hertel posted on X:
“Congresswoman Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future.”
The backlash on X has been brutal. Democrats and progressive figures have piled on with harsh attacks, calling her a traitor, disturbed, deranged, dishonest, and worse. Senate Democratic leaders and party officials have publicly condemned her endorsement, while multiple members of her staff reportedly resigned in response.
Stevens endorsed a Republican in one Senate race, and Michigan Democratic Party leadership made its position clear.
That is not a big tent.
Stevens is about to find out who her real friends are and who will turn their backs on her for stepping outside the party line. I can’t wait to hear what Gretchen Whitmer and Jocelyn Benson have to say about this.
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