Table of Contents
A Democratic congresswoman in Michigan has endorsed the Republican candidate in the state’s crucial US Senate contest, as a dispute with her own party’s nominee Abdul El-Sayed escalated just days before the election.
Party Split Erupts Before Election
Haley Stevens, a sitting congresswoman who lost the Democratic Senate nomination to El-Sayed, made a surprise appearance alongside Republican candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday. In a video posted to X shortly after the event, Stevens stated that she did not belong in El-Sayed’s campaign and criticized the Democratic nominee, announcing her endorsement of Rogers.
The decision stunned fellow Democrats who condemned Stevens for breaking party ranks just two days before the vote. The public feud between the centrist Democrat Stevens and left-wing representative El-Sayed had boiled over following a disagreement over a campaign advertisement from an outside liberal group linking US support for Israel with high prices. Stevens called on El-Sayed to denounce the ad, while El-Sayed criticized the advertisement and stated he had no involvement in its contents.
Stevens had planned to appear at a joint event with El-Sayed on Sunday to display party unity, but she was reportedly asked not to come. Instead, she attended a church service alongside the Republican opponent, telling reporters that El-Sayed made it clear she was unwelcome in his campaign. When asked about the endorsement, El-Sayed told reporters he was focused on the problems facing Michiganders and that the endorsement did not matter.
Tight Senate Race and National Reaction
The Michigan Senate race is considered one of the tightest in the midterm elections and a key battleground contest that will help decide control of the Senate. The seat is currently held by a retiring Democrat, and the last time a Republican won the seat was in 1994. Nationally, Michigan remains a crucial swing state that voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024.
Rogers welcomed the endorsement, praising Stevens for showing courage during remarks with reporters. President Donald Trump echoed that sentiment on Truth Social, stating that Stevens showed great and unprecedented loyalty to the people of Michigan. Meanwhile, multiple members of Stevens’ staff reportedly resigned immediately following her announcement, and Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel issued a statement condemning her decision as an abandonment of everything she claims to care about.
As reported by BBC News, voters in downtown Detroit expressed mixed reactions, with some calling the move a betrayal of the party and others questioning its impact on the outcome. Marissa Lee, a supporter of Rogers, told BBC News that voters could see right through the actions and that nobody’s mind would be changed. On Sunday, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer labeled the endorsement a despicable betrayal of the political party.
Primary Divisions and Control of the Senate
Earlier this year, El-Sayed defeated Stevens to win the Democratic nomination for the US Senate race following a bruising campaign. The primary and subsequent feud have highlighted ideological divisions over the party’s direction ahead of the 2028 presidential election. El-Sayed, a former public health official and the son of Egyptian immigrants, has channeled grassroots frustration with Washington politics and US ties to Israel, while Stevens maintained the support of centrist figures like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Democrats are hoping to regain control of the Senate in the elections but require a net gain of four seats to succeed. A loss in Michigan would represent a major blow, increasing the requirement to flip five seats to win control of the chamber.
