WASHINGTON — Stevens is getting even.
Michigan Dem Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers Sunday in a stunning defection two days before the midterm election after a massive, public falling-out with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Haley’s comet hit Democrats’ only vulnerable Senate seat in the 2026 midterm, making it critical for the party’s plans to flip the upper chamber. El-Sayed’s left-wing leanings and anti-Israel rhetoric already had him locked in an extremely tight race with Rogers, a former FBI special agent and congressman.
“Our Democratic nominee for US Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away. And he’s right,” Stevens said in a video message released Sunday.
“And that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today. I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign. I do not stand with Hassan Piker.
“This is the conscience of the Senate right now and our Michigan moment. And I’m just letting you know where I am. I’m still a very proud Democrat.”
Stevens lost the Michigan Senate Democratic nomination to left-wing El-Sayed by 1 percentage point, despite the RealClearPolitics polling aggregate having El-Sayed up by 10 points.
El-Sayed currently has a 4-point polling lead over Rogers, according to RealClearPolitics. Rogers’ campaign says his internal polling shows the Republican ahead.
It’s unclear whether Steven’s move will move the needle for Rogers. With over 2.1 million early votes cast already, Michigan appears to be trending about 15 points bluer compared to this time in 2024, according to data compiled by On Point Politics.
At the heart of their feud is El-Sayed’s outspoken criticism of Israel and his cozy relationship with far-left figures such as the Mao-loving Piker — who once said that “America deserved 9/11.” Stevens has been vexxed by what she sees as antisemitic rhetoric from some of El-Sayed’s backers — despite establishment heavyweights including former President Barack Obama swinging into Michigan to boost him.
“None of this matters,” a smirking El-Sayed later told reporters. “I would hope that y’all would want to ask questions that are relevant to that [everyday] family. They’re the ones who matter. The rest of this is just a distraction.”
President Trump later praised Stevens as a “highly respected Democrat.”
“Her following is huge, and the level of respect from the People of Michigan, especially our African American and Jewish populations, is virtually unparalleled,” Trump observed on Truth Social. “Haley said what few people are willing to say. She showed great and almost unprecedented loyalty to the Great People of Michigan with what she did. It’s a thing called bravery.”
Stevens was initially supposed to attend a unity event with El-Sayed on Sunday — before making the surprise heel-turn to appear with Rogers, who lost his 2024 Senate race by less than half a percentage point.
But the two clashed late last week, prompting El-Sayed to gloat over his defeat of her in the primary and disinvite her to the Dem rally.
During her appearance with Rogers, Stevens touted her support for investing in black businesses.
“And that’s the policy that Mike’s going to take on,” she told reporters before entering the nave.
The shocking move marked the latest high-profile defection for El-Sayed, who has faced fractures in the Democratic coalition among Jewish and black voters. Former Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Lon Johnson, for example, urged Wolverine State voters not to back El-Sayed.
Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), from conservative western Michigan, has declined to endorse El-Sayed.
“I am really proud to have her vote,” Rogers said of Stevens. “There are lots of Democrats that are joining us.”
Looming over her defections was her fiancé, Jason Turkish’s decision to endorse Rogers, which became public last week. Turkish is Jewish.
Initially, Stevens stood by El-Sayed. She released a statement late last week confirming plans to appear beside him at a unity event on Sunday.
However, she also criticized him over a controversial ad by “Young Turks” co-founder Cenk Uygur, which blamed Israel for high prices at the grocery store.
Critics, including Stevens, ripped it as antisemitic.
“I therefore expect him to apologize for those statements as well,” Stevens said in her lengthy statement. “Abdul promises to get money out of politics. He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford.”
Stevens’ statement rankled El-Sayed, who came out and hit back at her in response.
“[O]ur people-powered campaign defeated a historic $70M in outside spending from big corporations and AIPAC on behalf of Congresswoman Stevens,” El-Sayed said in a statement on Friday. “Now the stakes are even higher.”
Later, it was revealed that El-Sayed’s team asked Stevens not to attend the event on Sunday with Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), which took place not far from the church where Stevens and Rogers were seen smiling together.
The Post contacted El-Sayed’s team for comment.
“I am sorry people are upset. I understand that. I did endorse the Democratic nominee. He chose to say I wasn’t welcome,” Stevens said when asked about Democratic concerns over her defection to Rogers.
“This is about leadership and integrity. This is about looking in the mirror. About how real Democrats for Rogers are.”
“There’s going to be people who agree with me, people who disagree with me. All the love to them and all the excitement for what is down the road.”
Top Democrats raged against Stevens after her defection, given the stakes of the Michigan Senate race, which could determine the balance of power in the upper chamber.
“Mike Rogers is Donald Trump’s handpicked candidate for Senate, a rubber stamp for Trump’s toxic agenda, and a corrupt politician looking out only for himself. The Michigan Democratic Party stands united and fully behind Abdul El-Sayed, a proven, committed fighter for Michigan’s working families,” Michigan Democratic Party chairman Curtis Hertel said in a statement.
“Haley Stevens’ decision to campaign with Rogers- a man who has repeatedly sold out Michigan’s working class, wants to pass a national abortion ban, and has pledged to be a loyal vote for Trump’s agenda-shows that she has abandoned everything she claims to care about. We reject the attempts by Stevens and bad-faith actors to divide our party.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) blasted Stevens’ move in a statement, saying, “This is a despicable betrayal from Rep. Stevens.”
“Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed, because we know he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan, unlike Mike Rogers, who is a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors,” Schumer, who backed Stevens in the primary, added.
Rogers narrowly lost the Michigan Senate race in 2024 to Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) by 0.3 percentage points. He later blamed his loss, in part, on a bruising primary fight he had this year and predicted to The Post that the Democratic nominee would face a similar problem this election cycle.
