Drama surrounding the midterm elections continues with less than 24 hours before polls open Tuesday morning.
Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens stunned Michigan Democrats Sunday by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers just two days before the state’s closely watched Senate election. The extraordinary party defection came shortly after Stevens appeared alongside Rogers during a service at Perfecting Church in Detroit. Stevens had previously endorsed Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed after narrowly losing to him in Michigan’s bitter August Democratic Senate primary.
As recently as last week, Stevens publicly reaffirmed that she planned to vote for El-Sayed and the Democratic ticket. That changed dramatically Sunday after weeks of escalating tensions between Stevens and El-Sayed erupted into an open political rupture.
“Abdul made very clear that I was not welcome in his campaign,” Stevens told reporters after appearing with Rogers. Stevens said El-Sayed did not need or want her involvement and argued that voters should ultimately consider who was “standing for country.” “We have to stand with country. We can’t stand with hate,” Stevens added while discussing her decision.
Stevens later formally endorsed Rogers in a social-media video, confirming that her church appearance represented more than a symbolic gesture. “I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign,” Stevens said while explaining why she was supporting the Republican nominee instead.
The stunning reversal followed El-Sayed’s decision to ask Stevens to stay away from his remaining campaign events before Tuesday’s election. Stevens had originally been expected to join El-Sayed and Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn at a separate Detroit church event Sunday.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) later said she asked Stevens not to attend because the escalating dispute had become a distraction from El-Sayed’s campaign. The relationship deteriorated after Stevens demanded El-Sayed condemn an outside advertisement linking American military assistance to Israel with higher grocery prices.
Stevens characterized the advertisement as antisemitic, while El-Sayed stressed that his campaign did not produce it and said he disagreed with its contents. The disagreement became particularly sensitive because Stevens has repeatedly raised concerns about rhetoric involving Israel and Michigan’s Jewish community.
Her fiancé, attorney Jason Turkish, separately announced last week that he planned to vote for Rogers instead of El-Sayed. Turkish subsequently attended the Sunday service with Stevens as Rogers worshipped alongside his wife, Kristi.
Rogers welcomed Stevens’ endorsement and described her decision as an example of “courage in politics.” He added: “Candidly, I’m glad I’m not running against Haley Stevens today,” Rogers told reporters following the church appearance.
