Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) is facing intense criticism from within her own party after announcing she would split her ticket and vote for Republican Sen. Mike Rogers over Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The backlash has led some Democrats to label Stevens as mentally unstable or a traitor, with suggestions that she could face expulsion from the House Democratic caucus.
According to reporting by the New York Post, the criticism has escalated to personal attacks and suggestions of mental illness. George Conway reportedly encouraged Stevens to seek mental health treatment, while strategist James Carville allegedly described her as a "used condom." Rep. Debbie Dingell expressed concern for Stevens' well-being, stating, "She's a human being." Former Republican Bill Kristol suggested Stevens "seems to have had some kind of breakdown or something," and Zeteo editor-in-chief Mehdi Hasan called her "a disturbed, deranged, dishonest woman."
The controversy intensified after Stevens declared her intention to vote for Rogers. This decision came after El-Sayed refused to reject an advertisement that critics described as antisemitic, which argued that Jews were taking money from Michigan families for food. The New York Post noted that El-Sayed himself had echoed similar sentiments in his final campaign speech. Stevens' fiancé, Jason Turkish, was also brought into the fray, with former Pennsylvania congresswoman Susan Wild suggesting Stevens' decision was influenced by him.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated that actions might be taken regarding Stevens' decision. He told Politico that Stevens had "isolated herself from the House Democratic caucus" and that "We will have a discussion about appropriate next steps upon our return."
The criticism directed at Stevens has been characterized by some as hypocritical, particularly given the Democratic Party's claims of being a "big tent." The New York Post article draws parallels to historical tactics used to discredit political opponents, including the Soviet Union's use of mental illness diagnoses for dissidents and the "Goldwater Rule" in psychiatry. The article argues that the attacks on Stevens expose a groupthink culture within the Democratic Party, with little tolerance for dissent. Stevens has reportedly challenged Democrats to tolerate her right to disagree with the party consensus, but the response has been suggestions of formal expulsion.