Stevens' Endorsement of Rogers Splits Michigan Democrats Before Senate Vote

Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate on Sunday, breaking with her party's nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, just ahead of Election Day, NPR, ABC News and Fox News reported. Stevens had lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed.

The move jolted what Fox News called a critical Senate race and exposed a rift among Democrats over Israel and how candidates should respond to rhetoric from allies and outside groups.

What happened between Stevens and El-Sayed

According to ABC News, the two had faced off in an acrimonious primary but seemed to have mended fences afterward. A new dispute then surfaced when Stevens asked El-Sayed to disavow an ad from an outside group that she called antisemitic. NPR reported that the ad, tied to Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, blamed Israel for high grocery prices in the United States. Fox News said it was put out by Rebellion PAC, which Uygur founded.

El-Sayed's campaign said he had nothing to do with the ad. At a Saturday press event, he said he did not agree with its contents, according to Fox News.

Stevens told CNN last week she would vote for the Democratic ticket, ABC News reported. Her fiance, Jason Turkish, had said he planned to vote for Rogers. Stevens said she had been scheduled to appear with El-Sayed and Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina at a Detroit church on Sunday, but she made her participation conditional on El-Sayed rejecting the ad and apologizing for rhetoric she found offensive. That event went ahead without her.

In a video posted Sunday, Stevens said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign and that he was right, so she was backing Rogers. She later appeared with Rogers at a church service in Detroit, according to ABC News and NPR.

What Stevens and her supporters say

At a joint press conference, Stevens said the decision was right for Michigan and was about standing with the country, ABC News reported. She said most of her votes would go to Democrats but that her Senate vote would go to Rogers. She said El-Sayed had boxed her out of his campaign.

NPR reported that Stevens had been critical of El-Sayed for not doing enough to reassure Jewish and Black voters who backed her in the primary. She also said she does not stand with streamer Hasan Piker, who campaigned with El-Sayed during the primary. El-Sayed distanced himself from Piker's remarks in August but did not disavow him, NPR said.

The Republican National Committee welcomed the endorsement. Spokesman Hunter Lovell told Fox News Digital it showed Rogers has appeal beyond Republican voters. President Donald Trump also praised Stevens in a social media post, ABC News reported.

What El-Sayed and Democratic leaders say

El-Sayed said he does not think about Stevens, according to NPR and ABC News. He told reporters that voters have more pressing concerns, including food costs, gas prices and health care bills, and said the endorsement does not matter to them.

Democratic leaders reacted angrily. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called the endorsement a “despicable betrayal” and said Senate Democrats remain united behind El-Sayed. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel criticized Rogers' record and said Stevens had abandoned what she claims to care about. Democratic National Committee Black Caucus Chair Virgie Rollins accused Stevens of using Black Michiganders for a political stunt, ABC News reported.

Fox News reported that allies of El-Sayed, including Piker, journalist Mehdi Hasan and former Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg, sharply criticized Stevens on social media.

What's at stake for Michigan voters and Democrats

The race will help decide who represents Michigan in the Senate, and the endorsement came as voters prepared to cast final ballots.

NPR reported that the clash highlights a broader split within the Democratic Party over Israel and the rhetoric surrounding it. The outlet said that divide is likely to last well beyond Election Day and will be something the party has to contend with as it prepares for the 2028 presidential nominating process.

Around Prague, based on reporting by NPR, ABC News, CBS News