Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over her party’s nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, in the state’s pivotal Senate race on Sunday.
The move capped months of tension between Stevens and El-Sayed, who defeated her in the August primary. Stevens had initially planned to campaign with El-Sayed but publicly broke with him after he declined to disavow a PAC ad linking rising grocery prices to U.S. military support for Israel. She criticized his stance on Israel in interviews with the New York Times published Saturday.
President Donald Trump celebrated the endorsement on Truth Social, calling it “BIG” and praising Stevens as “a Highly Respected Democrat” who showed “great and almost unprecedented loyalty to the Great People of Michigan.” He added, “Haley said what few others are willing to say.” Trump later invited her to join the Republican Party during a rally in Iowa, saying, “I’d love her to join the Republican party. I think that could happen.”
Democratic leaders condemned Stevens’ decision. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it a “betrayal” of Michigan families’ healthcare and freedoms, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish, also criticized the move. El-Sayed responded by telling Stevens to stay away from a planned joint campaign event on Sunday.
Stevens represents a suburban Detroit district with a large Jewish population. Her fiancé, Democratic megadonor Jason Turkish, announced this week he would vote for Rogers. Stevens told the Times she had met with a rabbi ahead of their wedding and was considering converting to Judaism.
The endorsement comes as early voting surpasses 50 million nationwide, outpacing the 2022 midterms. Michigan’s Senate race is among the most closely watched, with control of the chamber potentially hinging on the outcome.
