Haley Stevens Endorses Mike Rogers for Michigan Senate

Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Michigan) announced Sunday that she will back former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Michigan) for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Gary Peters (D). The endorsement comes just two days before the mid-term elections and follows a bitter primary battle in which Abdul El-Sayed defeated Stevens over the summer.

Stevens's decision was made after days of tension between the two Democrats and a public feud that culminated in her appearance with Rogers at a church service in Detroit. The move has angered Michigan Democrats who see it as a betrayal of the party's interests in a pivotal Senate race.

Background: The Michigan Senate Seat and Its Stakes

The Senate seat vacated by Sen. Gary Peters is one of several that Democrats aim to retain in the 2024 mid-terms. A loss in Michigan would make it harder for the party to secure the overall Senate majority, as they need a net gain of four seats to achieve that goal.

Democratic voters in Michigan have long viewed the state as a battleground, with the last election seeing a narrow victory for the Republicans in the House. The Senate race, therefore, carries significant weight for both parties.

The Primary Battle Over Israel and Gaza

The conflict over Israel and the Gaza war was the central issue in the primary between Stevens and El-Sayed. Stevens criticized El-Sayed for a campaign ad that linked Israel to high grocery prices in the U.S., a move that some observers described as antisemitic.

El-Sayed has called for the U.S. to cut off financial aid to Israel and redirect that money toward domestic priorities. During the primary, Stevens received substantial contributions from pro-Israel lobbying groups, which became a point of contention between the candidates.

After the primary, Stevens initially endorsed El-Sayed, but the relationship soured when El-Sayed refused to publicly disavow the controversial ad. Stevens demanded that El-Sayed remove the ad, but he declined, leading to a public split.

Stevens's Endorsement of Mike Rogers

In a video posted to social media Sunday, Stevens said, "As you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign, and that I should stay away. And he's right. And that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today."

The endorsement followed Stevens's appearance at a church service alongside Rogers, an action that enraged Michigan Democrats. Rogers's campaign staffer Abby Ronson posted a photo of the two together, captioning it, "HAPPENING NOW: Congresswoman Haley Stevens joins Mike Rogers at church in Detroit this morning. We have a state to save, Michigan."

Reaction from Michigan Democrats

The Michigan Democratic Party released a statement condemning Rogers and Stevens. Party chair Curtis Hertel described Rogers as "President Donald Trump's hand-picked candidate for Senate, a rubber stamp for Trump's toxic agenda, and a corrupt politician looking out only for himself."

Hertel added, "The Michigan Democratic Party stands united and fully behind Abdul El-Sayed, a proven, committed fighter for Michigan's working families. Haley Stevens' decision to campaign with Rogers, a man who has repeatedly sold out Michigan's working class, wants to pass a national abortion ban, and has pledged to be a loyal vote for Trump's agenda, shows that she has abandoned everything she claims to care about."

Hertel concluded, "We reject the attempts by Stevens and bad-faith actors to divide our party and undermine our momentum, and will not allow these eleventh-hour distractions deter us."

El-Sayed's Response

El-Sayed, who would become the nation's first Muslim senator if elected, responded to Stevens's endorsement by calling her a "bad-faith actor." He urged voters to focus on defeating Rogers and holding Trump accountable, saying, "So while Congresswoman Stevens seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago, let's all focus on the task at hand: that's beating Mike Rogers, holding Trump accountable, and getting money out of politics."

Personal and Political Tensions

Stevens's fiancé, who is Jewish, recently said he would vote for Rogers. The personal dimension adds another layer to the already heated political dispute.

El-Sayed's stance on Israel and Gaza has drawn criticism from some Democrats who see the conflict as a "genocide." The split between him and Stevens reflects a broader divide within the party over support for Israel's actions in Gaza.

What Happens Next?

With the endorsement announced just two days before the mid-term elections, the race is set to become even more contentious. Michigan Democrats are calling for a united front behind El-Sayed, while Republicans are rallying around Rogers.

Both campaigns are intensifying outreach to voters, with the Democratic Party emphasizing El-Sayed's commitment to working families and the Republican Party highlighting Rogers's experience and alignment with President Trump's agenda.

As the election approaches, the focus will shift to voter turnout and the ability of each side to mobilize supporters in a state that has proven to be a swing territory in recent elections.

Updated 12:58 p.m. EST

The Hill has reached out to both Stevens's office and El-Sayed's campaign for further comment.