Democratic U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan's race for the U.S. Senate against Democratic nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a move Stevens announced Sunday on social media.
Stevens stated in a video posted online that El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee, said she was no longer welcome in his campaign. "And he's right, and that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today. I don't belong in Abdul's campaign," Stevens said.
The endorsement follows a recent dispute between Stevens and El-Sayed over a campaign ad that Stevens described as antisemitic. Stevens' fiancé had also recently attended an event with Rogers and Sen. Ted Cruz.
Stevens was also seen at a Black church service in Detroit on Sunday alongside Rogers. A representative from the Rogers campaign posted a photo of the two together on X.
Previously, as recently as last week, Stevens had told CNN that she would vote for El-Sayed, stating, "Of course I'm voting, you know, for our Democratic nominee for Senate. I'm voting for the Democratic ticket."
El-Sayed, speaking to reporters after attending a different church service in Detroit on Sunday, commented on Stevens' endorsement. "At the end of the day, I actually don't think about Haley Stevens," he said. "So I have a sense that you all are here today because of the decisions of somebody who's not here right now. Am I right about that? But I'm just going to tell you, this is a state of 10 million people who deserve a lot better from the government."
President Donald Trump praised Stevens' endorsement of Rogers on social media Sunday, calling it "great and almost unprecedented loyalty" to Michigan.
However, Stevens' endorsement drew swift criticism from fellow Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called it a "despicable betrayal" and stated Senate Democrats are "united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed." The Democratic National Committee Black Caucus Chair Virgie Rollins issued a statement calling Stevens a "sellout" and stating, "Michiganders know that Mike Rogers is a shill for Trump and has failed Michigan."
Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan also urged focus on electing Democrats, including El-Sayed, in a statement on X, saying, "Michiganders ... want leaders focused on making their lives more affordable. That's what they're talking about, not Congresswoman Stevens' continued efforts to get attention."