Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens has endorsed her former primary opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, following her narrow defeat in the state's Senate primary. Stevens stated her decision reflects acceptance of the democratic process, despite political differences with El-Sayed.
"That's called democracy," Stevens said in a television appearance, defending her endorsement. "You don't sign up for a Democratic Party to be salty grapes and... just continue to hold a grudge."
Stevens, who was considered the more moderate candidate in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., had previously drawn contrasts with El-Sayed on issues including Israel and the direction of the Democratic Party. These distinctions remain, even after the primary.
During her appearance, Stevens reaffirmed her identity as a "Zionist Democrat," while acknowledging that candidates with similar political stances have faced challenges in Democratic primaries. "I believe in democracy. He won the majority of the votes, and I'm going to continue to stand by my positions," she told interviewers.
She further identified herself as "a Democrat who gets endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO" and as "one of our most effective lawmakers." Stevens described herself as a "patriot" who loves the country and its freedoms, and stated, "yes, I am still in the Democratic Party, even though folks like me maybe aren't winning our primaries."
El-Sayed, who has emerged as a prominent figure on the party's progressive wing, rejects the "socialist" label. However, he supports policies such as abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ending U.S. military aid to Israel, and establishing Medicare for All.
Stevens drew a clear distinction between her former opponent and socialism, stating that while El-Sayed has disavowed the ideology, "I think we all should. It's dangerous." She identified herself as a "proud... Democratic labor capitalist," a tenet of her campaign.