‘I’m Still a Democrat’: Haley Stevens endorses Republican Mike Rogers days before election, withdrawing support for El-Sayed

Haley Stevens wants Democrats to control the Senate, but two days before the election, the Democratic congresswoman endorsed the Republican running for Michigan’s seat. According to WDIV, Stevens announced her support for Mike Rogers on Sunday, reversing her endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated her in August’s Democratic primary.

According to Rogers, Stevens reminded him during their phone call that she was “still a Democrat.” She had previously warned that he would be a “rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s dangerous agenda.”

Stevens appeared with Rogers at a Detroit church service, citing El-Sayed’s association with political streamer Hasan Piker and claiming the Democratic nominee had told her she was unwelcome in his campaign. Her decision prompted staff resignations and criticism from Democratic leaders.

Why Stevens withdrew her support

Stevens pointed to El-Sayed’s campaign appearances with political streamer Hasan Piker when explaining her decision. “We have to stand with country. We can’t stand with hate. We can’t stand with Hasan Piker,” she said, according to WDIV.

She had also demanded that El-Sayed condemn a Rebellion PAC advertisement connecting rising grocery prices to U.S. military aid to Israel and the killing of Palestinians. Stevens called the ad antisemitic. El-Sayed said his campaign did not produce it and that he disagreed with it, while accusing Stevens of revisiting their primary fight.

The two had been scheduled to attend a Sunday worship service with Rep. Jim Clyburn. That joint appearance fell through, and Stevens claimed El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign.

“He chose to close his campaign by saying I wasn’t welcome,” she said. Reported by CBS News, El-Sayed had said Saturday that he wanted to avoid distracting from the campaign’s key issues. Stevens attended church with Rogers instead, and the Republican welcomed her endorsement.

Cooper questioned what changed overnight

Rep. Debbie Dingell said Stevens assured her Saturday night that she would vote for El-Sayed. By Sunday, Stevens was endorsing Rogers. During her CNN interview, Anderson Cooper repeatedly asked her to explain the reversal.

Stevens said she woke up certain of her decision, but she also said she wanted Democrats to control the Senate and acknowledged that winning Michigan’s seat was essential. Cooper asked how endorsing Rogers fit with her earlier warning that he would support Trump’s agenda.

Stevens responded by questioning why Democrats would accept “this type of anger and lack of kindness.” Cooper pressed her again, saying, “You’re not really answering any of my questions, so it’s somewhat frustrating.”

Members of her staff also broke with her. Chief of staff Justin German resigned, and an automated reply from communications director Logan Basch said he no longer worked in her office. German described the team as “shocked and heartbroken” and affirmed their support for El-Sayed.

Former campaign spokesperson Joetta Appiah accused Stevens of abandoning what her campaign stood for and urged voters to stay focused on Tuesday’s election. El-Sayed likewise tried to move the conversation back to policy, saying he was focused on Michigan’s voters rather than Stevens.

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