Rep. Haley Stevens, a Democrat who narrowly lost the Michigan Senate nomination to Abdul El-Sayed, appeared alongside Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers at a Detroit church on Sunday. The eleventh-hour appearance marks a significant twist in the closely contested race.
Stevens was initially scheduled to attend a Democratic unity rally with El-Sayed on the same day. However, she instead appeared with Rogers, a move that prompted El-Sayed’s campaign to describe it as a “stunning defection.” The Democratic nominee had publicly clashed with Stevens late last week, leading him to disinvite her from the planned unity event.
During her appearance with Rogers, Stevens spoke about her support for investing in Black businesses, stating, “And that’s the policy that Mike’s going to take on,” according to reports. This gesture comes as polls indicate the Michigan Senate race is among the tightest in the country.
The defection represents a high-profile challenge for El-Sayed, who has faced internal divisions within the Democratic coalition, particularly among Jewish and Black voters. Stevens lost the Democratic Senate nomination to El-Sayed by a single percentage point.