Haley Stevens Backs Mike Rogers After Falling Out With Abdul El-Sayed

One of the most senior Democrats in Michigan has thrown her support behind a Republican, a move that has unified the party’s establishment and progressive wings in condemnation. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Michigan) announced on Sunday that she is endorsing Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate.

The decision follows a reported conflict with the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens initially backed El-Sayed after losing the primary race. However, El-Sayed’s campaign asked Stevens to keep her distance due to lingering tensions. Stevens addressed the split directly in a video posted on X. "Hey Michigan, 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," she stated. "And that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today."

Top party leaders reacted swiftly to the endorsement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) called Stevens’ decision "despicable." He reminded voters that Senate Democrats support El-Sayed, who he said will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan. Schumer contrasted that with Rogers, whom he described as a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) took to X to be blunt about the stakes. "Let’s be clear about one thing. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed will always put the American people first and fight hard to lower the high cost of living," he wrote. He added that El-Sayed’s election is critical to flipping control of the United States Senate. Jeffries labeled Rogers a partisan hack who represents more of the same MAGA extremism.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who had previously endorsed Stevens in the primary, said the congresswoman chose to dangerously betray Michigan families’ healthcare, freedoms, and future. She called the endorsement of Rogers horrific. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani told the New York Times the pivot was galling. He framed the choice as a fight for working people versus a candidate who wants to cut Medicare further.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) appeared to dismiss the move as a distraction during a campaign stop in Astoria, N.Y. "Abdul El-Sayed is very clearly the leader that we need in this moment, and I don’t think that it’s worth the distraction," she said.

Local Michigan leaders also voiced their frustration. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) said on X that she tried to stay out of the political drama but felt there was too much at stake to remain silent. She wrote that anyone who makes an election this important about themselves should think hard about whether they are serving the greater good. Sen. Gary Peters, whose seat is up for grabs, said he was extremely disappointed. He posted that he endorsed El-Sayed and that he will cast his ballot for El-Sayed and every Democrat on the ballot. DNC Chair Ken Martin slammed the move as a last-minute political stunt designed to sow division and derail momentum.