Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers Two Days Before Senate Vote

Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan’s open Senate seat on 1 November 2026, two days before voters cast ballots in the midterm election.

Stevens, who finished second to Abdul El-Sayed in the August Democratic primary, made the announcement after joining Rogers at Detroit’s Perfecting Church. In a video posted to X 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 stated. She added that “who we are as Michiganders is not hate.”

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel responded that Stevens had abandoned positions she previously held. He noted Rogers’ record on abortion restrictions and alignment with former President Trump’s agenda. Other Democratic officials described the move as a betrayal that undercut efforts to present a united front against Rogers.

Stevens had publicly supported El-Sayed after the primary despite an earlier feud centered on Israel policy and campaign messaging. As late as 31 October, reports indicated she intended to remain with the Democratic nominee. The shift occurred after further public exchanges over an outside advertisement and El-Sayed’s response to it.

Rogers welcomed the endorsement. The race is rated among the most competitive Senate contests and could help determine which party controls the chamber after 3 November. Rogers has sought support among Black and Jewish voters in the Detroit area; the church appearance provided a visible setting for that outreach.

El-Sayed’s campaign treated the endorsement as confirmation that Stevens had never been fully aligned. Democratic outside groups continued spending against Rogers. The timing left little room for the party to reframe the story before election day.

Stevens represents a suburban Detroit district. Her primary loss to El-Sayed, a progressive public-health physician, reflected divisions within the state party over foreign policy and economic messaging. Those divisions resurfaced in the final week when Stevens chose to appear with the Republican nominee.

Polls in the final days showed a tight contest. Both campaigns emphasized turnout in Detroit and the surrounding suburbs. Stevens’ endorsement added an unusual cross-party visual in a race already marked by high outside spending.

Michigan Democrats had hoped to hold the seat after long-time Senator Debbie Stabenow’s retirement. Rogers, a former House member and national security official, has run on a platform of energy production, border enforcement and opposition to certain progressive priorities. El-Sayed has focused on healthcare access, climate measures and criticism of corporate influence.

The endorsement does not change the ballot. Voters will choose among El-Sayed, Rogers and any minor candidates under Michigan’s rules. Its practical effect depends on whether it moves a measurable share of Stevens’ primary supporters or simply dominates media coverage in the final 48 hours.

Party chairs and campaign staff spent 1 and 2 November attempting to contain the story. Hertel’s statement rejected any division narrative and urged supporters to focus on Rogers’ voting record. Rogers’ campaign highlighted the church event and Stevens’ remarks about Michigan identity.

The episode illustrates the remaining tensions from the August primary. El-Sayed’s victory consolidated progressive support but left some centrist and suburban Democrats unenthusiastic. Stevens’ decision to cross the aisle publicly is the clearest expression of that residual gap in the final stretch.

Results on 3 November will show whether the endorsement altered outcomes in any precincts. For now, it has inserted an internal Democratic conflict into the final hours of one of the cycle’s most closely watched Senate races.