Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers two days before Election Day, a move that upended the final stretch of the state’s closely watched Senate race and drew swift condemnation from her own party’s leadership.
Stevens had been the primary rival of DSA-backed Abdul El-Sayed, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had endorsed her over El-Sayed back in June, judging her the more electable Democratic candidate. Following her endorsement of Rogers, party leaders accused her of a “despicable betrayal.” Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel went further, writing on social media: “Congresswoman Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future.”
Stevens went on to make a joint appearance with Rogers, a former congressman, at a Detroit church.
Raskin Caught Off Guard on Live Television
The endorsement caught Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-01), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, by surprise just hours after he had confidently predicted the opposite outcome on national television.
Appearing on Meet the Press Sunday morning, Raskin was asked by moderator Kristen Welker whether the public feud between Stevens and El-Sayed — which included Stevens criticizing El-Sayed’s stance on Israel and his refusal to disavow an ad she called antisemitic — could cost Democrats the Michigan Senate seat.
“No. I spoke last night to Haley Stevens, and I spoke to Abdul as well, and my wonderful friend Haley Stevens wants me to represent to you and everybody else I talk to that she is voting straight down the line on the Democratic ticket, and she’s going to be celebrating with Democrats across the country when we win on Tuesday night,” Raskin told Welker.
Hours later, after Stevens’ endorsement of Rogers became public, Raskin reversed course publicly. “I’m dumbfounded that Haley told me one thing last night and changed her mind today,” he said. He later told the New York Times he had been “blindsided” by the announcement.
The episode has become a flashpoint in the final days of a midterm cycle in which both parties are fighting for control of the Senate, with the Michigan race drawing outsized national attention because of the intraparty rift it exposed.
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