Democrat Haley Stevens backs Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate race

Summarised from 12 outlets · 36 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 18:21 · Archive

Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over her party's Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, two days before the midterm elections.

Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over her party's Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, two days before the midterm elections that will determine control of the chamber. The decision shocked fellow Democrats and sparked immediate backlash from party leadership.

Stevens had lost Michigan's Democratic primary to El-Sayed in August but initially endorsed him. Tensions between the two escalated following a campaign advertisement by Rebellion PAC that linked US support for Israel to rising living costs. Stevens called the ad antisemitic and demanded El-Sayed condemn it. El-Sayed said the ad was not produced by his campaign and rejected its message.

After El-Sayed's campaign told Stevens she was not welcome at a joint campaign event in Detroit, she instead appeared alongside Rogers at Perfecting Church on Sunday morning before announcing her endorsement. "I'm a proud Democrat, and I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate," she said. In a video posted to social media, she added: "I don't belong in Abdul's campaign."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Stevens' move "a despicable betrayal", saying that "Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed, because we know he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan, unlike Mike Rogers, who is a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders issued similar condemnations.

Curtis Hertel, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, said Stevens was not a member of the party "nor will she be in the future". Stevens' longtime chief of staff Justin German and other members of her staff resigned on Sunday morning in protest. In a statement, German said staff were "shocked and heartbroken" by her decision.

When pressed on CNN by Anderson Cooper about what changed overnight, Stevens struggled to provide a clear explanation, repeatedly saying she had simply woken up "clear-eyed, fresh and focused on what was in my heart". She cited El-Sayed becoming "angrier and angrier" and complained about his association with Hasan Piker, a political commentator she said was promoted on college campuses.

El-Sayed's campaign reported raising more than $2.4 million in a single day following the endorsement, from over 65,000 donors giving an average of $36.74. A campaign spokesperson said "the momentum behind Abdul's campaign has never been stronger". Rogers welcomed Stevens' support, describing it as a statement about standing together against hate and the future of Michigan and the United States.

How it is being reported

• Hear from Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed as their midterms race makes headlinesMichigan senatorial candidates Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed spoke to "60 Minutes" as their battleground race approaches an end. This comes as Rep. Haley Stevens faces backlash over her last-minute endorsement. CBS News' Ross Douthat has more.CBS News · 2 Nov, 17:04
• Democrat Haley Stevens grilled on 11th-hour endorsement of Mike Rogers in tense interviewDemocratic Rep. Haley Stevens faced a grilling from Anderson Cooper over her last-minute endorsement of Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race.Fox News · 2 Nov, 17:02
• Democrat Haley Stevens' Jewish fiancé is accused of masterminding her sudden switch to Republican candidate: 'Something snapped in her'In a dramatic last-minute twist, a failed Michigan Democratic Senate contender publicly backed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, a decision her colleague says was made at dinner.Daily Mail · 2 Nov, 16:58
• Haley Stevens drops bombshell endorsement | The Low DownThe NY Post and TMZ discuss the bombshell reversal of Rep Haley Stevens flipping to endorse Rep Mike Rogers in Michigan.New York Post · 2 Nov, 16:44
• Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed sparks backlash with shocking comments on transgender locker rooms in 60 Minutes interviewEl-Sayed, a former doctor running against Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, was interviewed by Ross Douthat of 60 Minutes on Sunday.Daily Mail · 2 Nov, 15:17
• Mamdani, Hasan Piker among radical left-wing voices erupting over Haley Stevens' endorsement switchChuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and top Democrats unleashed fury at Haley Stevens after her endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers before Tuesday.Fox News · 2 Nov, 15:15
• Democrat Haley Stevens shocks party with Mike Rogers endorsementMichigan Democrat Haley Stevens shocked her party by endorsing GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday amid a rift with Abdul El-Sayed. Nancy Cordes and Ed O'Keefe report.CBS News · 2 Nov, 14:19
• Abdul El-Sayed reacts after Haley Stevens angers Democrats by supporting Mike Rogers in MichiganRep. Haley Stevens, who lost her primary Democratic run in the Michigan Senate race to Abdul El-Sayed, stunned her party by supporting Republican Mike Rogers' campaign ahead of the midterms. CBS News' Aaron Navarro reports.CBS News · 2 Nov, 14:18
• Haley Stevens' endorsement stunt backfires with El-Sayed setting single-day fundraising recordAbdul El-Sayed's campaign reports a $2.4 million single-day fundraising surge after Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan.Fox News · 2 Nov, 14:07
• El-Sayed scores single-day fundraising record after Haley Stevens endorses rivalAbdul El-Sayed's campaign reports a $2.4 million single-day fundraising surge after Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan.Fox News · 2 Nov, 14:07
• Sour grapes? Dems shocked as Haley Stevens breaks ranksFrance 24’s Fraser Jackson takes a look at the state of play one day ahead of crucial midterm elections in the US as both Democrats and Republicans make their final bids for votes. Meanwhile, Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens has rocked the state’s Senate race by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers over Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens lost the Michigan Democrats' Senate primary to El-Sayed in a bitterly contested race, leading some to accuse her of sour grapes.France 24 · 2 Nov, 13:54
• Concern mounts for Democrat Haley Stevens after ‘trainwreck’ CNN interview over Republican endorsementFailed Michigan Senate candidate invites uproar after siding with GOP contender Mike Rogers over her own party’s Abdul El-Sayed, a decision she struggled to explain to Anderson Cooper SundayIndependent World · 2 Nov, 13:18
• Michigan Democrat's endorsement of Republican ruffles critical Senate raceA prominent Michigan Democrat endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, giving President Donald Trump's Republicans an unexpected boost in a critical US Senate race two days before midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.France 24 · 2 Nov, 12:41
• Stevens defects to back El-Sayed’s Michigan opponent as Trump delivers anti-Muslim tirade | First ThingTrump called Democratic candidate a ‘jihadist’ as El-Sayed’s defeated primary opponent backs Republican Mike Rogers. Plus an Australian fish worth its weight in gold Good morning. Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who lost the Michigan Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, has endorsed his Republican rival in an extraordinary rebuke of her party’s nominee on the eve of the midterm elections. Tensions between El-Sayed and Stevens had already led to him asking her to stay away from his campaign events , and her endorsement of Mike Rogers comes as the US president unleashed a racist tirade…Guardian World · 2 Nov, 12:31
• Haley Stevens backs Mike Rogers. And, Gulf states brace for potential attack on IranDemocrats in Michigan are considering their options after Haley Stevens endorsed GOP candidate Mike Rogers for Senate. And the Gulf states are bracing for a possible U.S. attack on Iran after the midterms.NPR · 2 Nov, 12:19
• US Midterms: Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens defects from partyDemocrats sought on Monday, November 2, to contain a rift in Michigan's US Senate race after one of their own crossed party lines to endorse the Republican candidate, as both parties made final pitches before midterm elections that will decide control of Congress. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Philip Turle has more.France 24 · 2 Nov, 11:52
• Michigan Dem claims Stevens shot down Rogers endorsement rumor hours before turning on El-SayedHaley Stevens told Rep. Debbie Dingell at midnight the Rogers endorsement was just a rumor. Five hours later, she stood beside him at a Detroit church.Fox News · 2 Nov, 11:23
• Democrats condemn Haley Stevens’ ‘betrayal’ following endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers – US politics liveThe latest move has roiled one of the most fiercely contested Senate contests Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog. Democratic politicians have condemned congresswoman Haley Stevens, who lost the Michigan Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, over her endorsement of his Republican rival just days before the midterm vote. Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed, because we know he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan, unlike Mike Rogers, who is a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors. We Democrats equally united in…Guardian World · 2 Nov, 11:06
• ‘A despicable betrayal’: Democrats incensed by Haley Stevens’ endorsement of Mike RogersStevens’ decision sparked fierce backlash from members of the party, while Donald Trump praised the sudden switch Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens’ shocking last-minute endorsement of Mike Rogers, a Republican Senate candidate, has sparked fierce backlash from members of her party. Stevens, who narrowly lost in the Democratic primary for Senate to Abdul El-Sayed, announced her support for Rogers after a feud with the El-Sayed campaign over an outside group’s campaign ad that blamed the high cost of living on US support for Israel. Continue reading...The Guardian · 2 Nov, 11:00
• Morning news briefDemocratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorses GOP candidate in Michigan race, key races remain close in last day before midterm election, Gulf states concerned about possible U.S. attack on Iran.NPR · 2 Nov, 09:42
• Haley Stevens was the future of Michigan Democrats. Then she endorsed a Republican.Democraic Rep. Haley Stevens shocked her fellow party members over the weekend when she endorsed a Republican for Senate in MichiganIndependent World · 2 Nov, 09:21
• US midterms: 1 day to go – Democrats rally around El-Sayed amid attacksDemocrats slam Haley Stevens over her endorsement of a Republican candidate a day before the polls.Al Jazeera · 2 Nov, 09:06
• Michigan Democrat stuns party to back Republican candidate in critical Senate raceA high-profile Democratic defection shook Michigan's Senate race on the eve of US midterm elections as Representative Haley Stevens threw her support behind Republican Mike Rogers rather than backing the Democratic candidate, Abdul Al-Sayed, who beat her in the primary race. The move exposed divisions within the party as control of Congress hangs in the balance.France 24 · 2 Nov, 08:20
• Michigan Democrat's endorsement of Republican ruffles critical Senate raceA prominent Michigan Democrat endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, giving President Donald Trump's Republicans an unexpected boost in a critical US Senate race two days before midterm elections that will decide control of Congress. FRANCE 24's Caroline Baum brings us more with this report.France 24 · 2 Nov, 07:55
• Haley Stevens struggles to explain what sparked decision to support El-Sayed's opponent amid Democrat pile-onDemocratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens struggled to explain her sudden decision to endorse Republican Mike Rogers over her former primary rival Abdul El-Sayed.Daily Mail · 2 Nov, 07:13
• Establishment Democrats And Progressives Can Agree On 1 Thing: Haley Stevens Is A TraitorThe Democratic Party’s most powerful and influential figures unanimously condemned Representative Haley Stevens and her last minute decision to back Republican Mike Rogers for the US Senate. Though Stevens initially backed Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed after narrowly losing a bitter primary battle against him, she made a very public about-face on Sunday following reports that lingering tension between the two led El-Sayed’s camp to ask her to keep her distance from his campaign. “Hey Michigan, as you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for US Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer…HuffPost UK · 2 Nov, 06:09
• Democrat Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers In Midterms ShockJust days before Michigan’s extremely consequential Senate race, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens switched sides ― officially endorsing Republican Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. The Democrat told reporters on Sunday she made the endorsement decision that morning, saying she is choosing country over party. “I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate. I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign. I do not stand with Hasan Piker, who gets trafficked on our college campuses,” Stevens said in a self-recorded video from her car. “What our students see, what our children see…HuffPost UK · 2 Nov, 06:04
• US midterms: Democrat Haley Stevens backs Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate raceA Democratic congresswoman has broken with her party to endorse Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, just two days before the US midterm elections.Euronews · 2 Nov, 05:56
• Democrats rocked by ‘despicable betrayal’ on eve of midterms voteHayley Stevens shocks colleagues by endorsing a Republican who could lock in Maga control of the SenateThe i Paper · 2 Nov, 03:29
• Fact-checking El-Sayed and Rogers on 60 MinutesRoss Douthat sat down with both candidates as they made their cases to Michigan voters.CBS News · 2 Nov, 01:22
• Abdul El-Sayed, Mike Rogers make final pitch to Michigan votersRepublican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed talk about their platforms, how they'd represent Michigan as senators in Washington and what it would mean if they win in the midterm election.CBS News · 2 Nov, 00:45
• 60 Minutes Transcript: Candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Mike RogersControl of the Senate may be decided in Michigan, where Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is facing Republican Mike Rogers in a tight race. They spoke with 60 Minutes about President Trump, Israel and more.CBS News · 2 Nov, 00:45
• Michigan candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers: The 60 Minutes InterviewsControl of the Senate may be decided in Michigan, where Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is facing Republican Mike Rogers in a tight race. They spoke with 60 Minutes about President Trump, Israel and more.CBS News · 2 Nov, 00:45
• 11/1/2026: Michigan Senate Race; Cuba in Crisis; WembyFirst, Michigan race: Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers. Then, inside Cuba under tough U.S. sanctions. And, Victor Wembanyama: The 60 Minutes Interview.CBS News · 2 Nov, 00:00
• Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers says he’s way ahead of Dem Abdul El-Sayed in early votesRepublican Michigan Senate hopeful Mike Rogers said that an internal model has him up by almost seven points with early votes in the critical contest.New York Post · 1 Nov, 22:44
• Michigan race: All you need to know about Abdul El-Sayed v Mike RogersAl Jazeera examines the crucial US Senate race in Michigan, including candidate positions and largest spenders.Al Jazeera · 1 Nov, 13:03

In this story: Haley Stevens · Mike Rogers · Abdul El-Sayed · Chuck Schumer · Michigan · Donald Trump · Rebellion PAC · Democratic Party

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log