Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens endorses Republican Mike Rogers two days before Senate election

Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan’s open Senate seat on 1 November, two days before voters cast ballots in a race that could decide control of the chamber. Stevens lost the August Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed.

Stevens attended a service at Perfecting Church on Detroit’s east side with Rogers that morning. She later posted a video on social media in which she said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign and that she should stay away. “And he’s right,” she said. “And that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today.”

She described herself as a very proud Democrat but added that “who we are as Michiganders is not hate” and that she does not stand with the streamer Hasan Piker, who had appeared with El-Sayed during the primary. Rogers called the endorsement an honour and said the two had spoken by phone earlier that day.

The move surprised Democratic leaders. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a “despicable betrayal.” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Stevens had abandoned the issues she claimed to care about and accused Rogers of supporting a national abortion ban and Trump’s agenda. Representative Debbie Dingell of Michigan and Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland both said Stevens had assured them the night before that she would still support El-Sayed.

The feud between Stevens and El-Sayed had intensified in the final days. Stevens had demanded that El-Sayed disavow an outside group’s advertisement. His campaign responded that she was not welcome at a planned unity event. Both candidates had been expected at a church gathering with Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina; Stevens went with Rogers instead.

Michigan’s Senate contest is among the most competitive of the 2026 midterms. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber. The seat is open because Democrat Gary Peters is retiring. Polling had shown a tight race between El-Sayed and Rogers before the endorsement.

Stevens appeared with Rogers outside the church after the service and spoke to reporters. She said she understood that people were upset. El-Sayed told reporters he did not think about Stevens and that the primary was over. He continued campaigning that afternoon at another Detroit church.

The endorsement gives Rogers a visible moment with a Democratic officeholder in a state where both parties are fighting for Black and Jewish voters. Stevens has represented a suburban Detroit district since 2019. She had initially supported El-Sayed after the primary before the recent public disagreements.

Democrats had hoped for a unified front in the final stretch. The public break instead dominated coverage on the eve of the election. Early voting was already under way when Stevens made her announcement.