Michigan Democrats react to Stevens defection

Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday, a move that shocked Michigan Democrats and led to her immediate expulsion from the state party. The decision came after Stevens appeared alongside Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit. Party officials and longtime allies quickly condemned the alliance, describing it as a break in a long-standing political relationship.

As of Monday, more than 2.3 million Michigan voters had already cast their ballots. Regular early in-person voting ended Sunday, and polls reopen statewide Tuesday. In 2022, approximately 4.5 million people voted in the midterm elections. Lori Goldman, a Democratic organizer in Oakland County, noted that while half the electorate has already voted, the late drama could influence those who wait until Election Day.

Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed addressed a crowd at Eastern Michigan University on Monday. He did not mention the Stevens endorsement during his speech. Instead, he focused on voter turnout, urging supporters to cast ballots regardless of recent events. He was joined by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and his grandparents. El-Sayed reported raising $2.4 million on Sunday, marking his largest fundraising day of the campaign.

Mike Rogers personally contacted Stevens over the weekend, according to a person with direct knowledge of the discussions. Rogers’ staff learned of the church appearance only on Sunday morning. The Republican campaign began touting the endorsement to voters immediately. Curtis Hertel, the Michigan Democratic Party chair, stated that the endorsement would energize the Democratic base rather than change the election outcome.

The primary race in August ended with El-Sayed defeating Stevens by approximately 14,000 votes. That contest featured strong disagreements over Israel and the war in Gaza. Stevens had previously said she would do whatever El-Sayed wanted on the campaign trail, but she remained absent for months. Tensions escalated when Rep. Debbie Dingell uninvited Stevens from a planned unity event, calling the dispute distracting.

Stevens explained her decision in a CNN interview, stating that she felt a weight off her shoulder. She said she was being straight with everybody regarding her frustration. Dingell, who appeared shaken during her own interview, called Stevens’ remarks one of the most painful interviews she had watched. She said she had worried about the congresswoman all week.

Cassaundra Sims, a 62-year-old West Bloomfield resident who previously supported Stevens, described the endorsement as shocking and disappointing. She said Stevens’ move showed a lack of trust within the community. Debbie Rosenman, who leads Democratic organizations in southeast Michigan, reported that local members felt betrayed. Adrian Hemond, a strategist who supported Stevens, called the endorsement colossally stupid but argued it stemmed from personal animosity rather than policy substance.

El-Sayed has apologized for comments made after a synagogue attack and has not appeared with streamer Hasan Piker again. However, some Jewish leaders maintained that he did not address their concerns sufficiently. Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, said last week that he would vote for Rogers. The final days of the campaign now focus on mobilizing voters who have not yet participated in the election.