Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens has triggered a severe backlash from her own party after announcing a last-minute endorsement of Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers. The decision comes just days before the general election and follows a bitter primary contest in which Stevens narrowly lost to Abdul El-Sayed.
Party Leaders Denounce the Move
Top Democratic officials quickly condemned the endorsement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the action “a despicable betrayal” in a social media post. He emphasized that Senate Democrats remain united behind El-Sayed, arguing that the Democrat will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan. Schumer contrasted this with Rogers, whom he described as a tool for Donald Trump and billionaire donors.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also issued a sharp critique. She stated that Stevens had chosen to “dangerously betray Michigan families’ healthcare, freedoms and future” with her support for the Republican candidate. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani added that working-class people’s lives are on the ballot, accusing Stevens of betraying them by backing the very Republican she had previously sought to defeat.
Curtis Hertel, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, took a firm stance regarding Stevens’ future in the party. He posted that she is no longer a member and will not be in the future. Hertel told a Detroit journalist that while there might be some sour grapes from the recent election, there is no reasonable explanation for the endorsement. He noted that the move is the antithesis of everything Stevens has fought for in her career.
Origins of the Feud
The endorsement stems from a public feud between Stevens and the El-Sayed campaign. The conflict centered on an advertisement from an outside group that blamed the high cost of living on US support for Israel. Stevens had stated she would appear at a campaign event for El-Sayed only if he denounced the advertisement. The El-Sayed campaign subsequently disinvited her.
Debbie Dingell, a Democratic representative from Michigan, addressed the controversy by focusing on the issues voters care about. She said in a statement that state residents are focused on the cost of living, healthcare, and housing. Dingell dismissed Stevens’ actions as a continued effort to get attention rather than addressing these pressing concerns.
While some Democrats and Jewish leaders also criticized the advertisement, congressional nominees Brad Lander and Daniel Bliss issued a statement encouraging voters to support El-Sayed. Both are Jewish Democrats. Their statement did not mention Stevens but urged voters to remember the true choice in the race. They argued that one candidate represents a party that has stoked hatred and remained silent on corruption, while the other represents accountability and affordability.
Trump Praises the Switch
Donald Trump seized on the endorsement, praising Stevens on his platform Truth Social. He described her as a “highly respected Democrat” and continued to support her during a campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa. Trump welcomed the idea of Stevens joining the Republican party, stating he thought it could happen. He claimed she showed great and almost unprecedented loyalty to the people of Michigan.
Source: The Guardian
