Haley Stevens Endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race Two Days Before Election

Democratic U.S. Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat on Sunday, November 1, two days before voters cast ballots in a race that could determine control of the chamber.

Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed in August, appeared with Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit before posting a video statement. In it she said El-Sayed had told her 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," she said. She added that she does not stand with the political streamer Hasan Piker, who had appeared with El-Sayed earlier in the cycle.

The move followed weeks of public friction. Stevens had pressed El-Sayed to disavow an outside advertisement that linked U.S. aid to Israel with rising grocery prices. She described the ad as antisemitic. El-Sayed rejected the ad's framing but the dispute continued. By Sunday morning Stevens had spoken with Rogers and decided to back him publicly.

Rogers, a former representative and Trump-backed candidate, said he was honored by the endorsement. He described it as a statement against hate rather than a routine political calculation. Stevens told reporters she remains a Democrat and expects to vote with her party on most issues, but that her Senate vote would go to Rogers because of what she sees as the stakes for Michigan.

Democratic leaders condemned the endorsement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a "despicable betrayal." Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Stevens had abandoned the working-class priorities she previously claimed to support, noting Rogers's positions on abortion and alignment with Trump. The Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin used similar language.

The Michigan Senate race is one of the closest contests in the 2026 midterms. Gary Peters is retiring, leaving the seat open. El-Sayed, a physician and former public health official, won the primary after a competitive fight. Rogers has emphasized economic issues and border security. Polls in the final weeks showed a tight contest, with the outcome potentially deciding which party holds a Senate majority.

Stevens's appearance at the predominantly Black church gave Rogers a visible platform with voters the Republican has courted. The timing, two days before Election Day, limits the ability of either campaign to fully absorb the shift. Absentee and early voting in Michigan had already recorded more than two million ballots by November 2, according to state tracking data.

For El-Sayed, the endorsement forces a final response on the trail. He told reporters the primary was over and that he was not focused on Stevens. His campaign has continued to highlight health care and economic messaging. For Rogers, the backing provides an unusual Democratic voice in a state where ticket-splitting remains common.

Michigan's other top races, including the open governorship, have drawn less intra-party drama in the final days. The Senate contest, however, has drawn national attention because of its potential effect on the chamber. Control of the Senate after November 3 will shape confirmation of judges, budget negotiations, and the balance of power in the final two years of the presidential term.

Stevens has represented a suburban Detroit district since 2019. Her primary loss was narrow, and she had previously indicated she would support the nominee. The public break is unusual for a sitting member of Congress this close to a general election. Whether it moves measurable votes remains an open question that will be tested on Tuesday.

Voters in Michigan can still cast ballots on Election Day or return absentee ballots by the close of polls. The endorsement adds one more variable in a state whose results have been decisive in recent national contests.