U.S. Representative Haley Stevens, a Democrat from Michigan, has formally endorsed Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers, following a period of internal party conflict. The endorsement came after Stevens attended church with Rogers, a move that highlights deep divisions within the Michigan Democratic Party ahead of the midterm elections.
Stevens, who lost her primary bid to current Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, was seen arriving at Perfecting Church in Detroit alongside Rogers. She stated her decision to endorse Rogers was made after her household felt "divided, until last night." Stevens indicated that El-Sayed had made it clear he did not need her support in his campaign, despite her "unwavering dedication to the Democratic Party."
"My vote will be with Mike Rogers. Because we have to stand with country. We cannot stand for hate," Stevens declared. Rogers expressed his honor at receiving Stevens's support, remarking, "I'm candidly happy I'm not running against [her]."
The strained relationship between Stevens and El-Sayed's campaigns intensified when Stevens's fiancé, Jason Turkish, announced he would vote for Rogers. Stevens initially reaffirmed her support for El-Sayed on CNN, urging his campaign to "shut out the hate and call it out." This was followed by a social media statement criticizing El-Sayed and demanding he condemn an advertisement that linked U.S. support for Israel to rising grocery prices.
El-Sayed's campaign reportedly asked Stevens to stay away from a planned Sunday event. When questioned by reporters about Stevens's potential involvement, El-Sayed declined to comment directly on her plans, stating she "wants to talk about other things." He also responded to a question about whether Stevens was attempting to sabotage his campaign by laughing and saying, "That is not a question for me."
Meanwhile, Rogers welcomed Stevens's potential participation in his campaign events. An adviser for South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, an influential Democrat, confirmed that an invitation for Stevens to attend church on Sunday "still stands."