Haley Stevens Endorses GOP Senate Candidate Mike Rogers After Losing Michigan Primary by 1 Race
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 1
Haley Stevens Endorses GOP Senate Candidate Mike Rogers After Losing Michigan Primary by 1 Race
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 1
Summary
Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat who lost the Senate primary, formally endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in a video on X after appearing with him at a Detroit church.
The break followed days of conflict with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed over a Rebellion PAC ad that blamed Israel for high grocery prices and over Stevens being asked not to attend a Sunday church event.
At Perfecting Church, Stevens said Rogers would back investment in Black-owned businesses; photos and video showed her and her fiance seated with Rogers and his wife.
El-Sayed had said he was not involved in the ad and criticized its contents on Saturday, but Stevens's endorsement turned an internal Democratic dispute into a public boost for the GOP nominee days before Tuesday's vote.
The rupture underscores broader Democratic divisions over Israel that could outlast the Michigan race and carry into Congress and the 2028 presidential contest.
Why do voters remain deeply dissatisfied with their personal finances despite recent data showing strong third-quarter economic growth?
How does the unprecedented deployment of federal monitors alter the balance between local election control and federal oversight?
Can courts successfully investigate alleged ballot confusion without violating the fundamental legal requirement for ballot secrecy?
Michigan’s 2026 Senate Meltdown: How the El-Sayed–Stevens Rift Exposed Democratic Divisions, Shaped Voter Coalitions, and Redefined Party Strategy
Overview
Just days before Michigan’s 2026 general election, a digital ad from Rebellion PAC linked high grocery prices to U.S. aid to Israel, sparking outrage among pro-Israel Democrats and Jewish groups. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee, refused to formally condemn the ad, which led to public criticism from his rival Haley Stevens and major donor Jason Turkish, who then backed the Republican candidate. The escalating dispute caused El-Sayed’s campaign to uninvite Stevens from a key unity event, resulting in a public party split. Democratic leaders scrambled to repair the damage, while Republicans seized the opportunity to attract disaffected voters.