'Despicable betrayal': Democrats stunned after Michigan congresswoman endorses Republican for Senate

Haley Stevens backs Mike Rogers after she lost party primary to Abdul El-Sayed The Associated Press · Posted: Nov 01, 2026 PM EST | Last Updated: 4 hours ago Play article Estimated 7 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Democrat Haley Stevens endorses a Republican for US Senate 5 hours ago|Duration Just two days before the U. S. midterm elections, Democratic congresswoman Haley Stevens announced she is endorsing Republican Mike Rogers after a bitter dispute with her own party’s nominee, Abdul El-Sayed. Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's former opponent in the U. Senate primary, Haley Stevens, stunned party officials Sunday . Stevens endorsed Rogers after attending a Detroit church service with him. The remarkable show of support for the President Donald Trump-backed candidate in the tightly contested race comes after she was uninvited to a joint event the same day with El-Sayed, who defeated the congresswoman by a slim margin in the August primary. "Our Democratic nominee for Senate said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away," Stevens said in a video announcing the endorsement, which led her top aide to quit. "And he's right. And that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today." El-Sayed dismissed the endorsement when asked about it , saying he's focused on issues voters care about, such as the high cost of living. "At the end of the day I actually don't think about Haley Stevens," he said, adding later: "None of this matters." People in Grand Rapids, Mich., watch a televised debate between El-Sayed and Stevens on July 7. (Kristen Norman/The Associated Press) Tensions between the two Democrats have festered since the primary. Stevens is a staunch supporter of Israel, while El-Sayed is a fierce critic of the U. He has also been criticized a Michigan synagogue attack and for appearances with controversial streamer Hasan Piker. El-Sayed, a former Michigan public health official, is in a tight race with Rogers, an ex-congressman, for the seat held , who is retiring. Michigan race may decide next U. Congress — and tariffs are the main issue Keeping Michigan in Democratic hands is vital to the party's effort to win a majority for the final two years of Trump's second term. Democrats had hoped Sunday would offer a show of unity as they worked to boost turnout in the Detroit area, where concerns have lingered about enthusiasm among Black and Jewish voters in key Democratic strongholds.