Stevens Endorses Rogers for Senate Two Days Before the Vote
Seven Lights
Haley Stevens, the defeated Democratic nominee for Michigan’s Senate race, stood alongside Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday and endorsed his candidacy two days before the election, capping an open rupture with her party’s nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.
Speaking at Perfecting Church in Detroit, Ms Stevens praised Mr Rogers for supporting Black-owned businesses. In a video she posted on X, she said Mr El-Sayed’s campaign “told me in very public fashion that I am no longer welcome, and he’s right, and that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers.” She said she remained a Democrat and still believed Democrats would win control of the Senate.
The breach unfolded over four days. Ms Stevens lost the Democratic primary in August. Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, said last week he would vote for Mr Rogers. She demanded that Mr El-Sayed denounce an outside group’s advertisement tying support for Israel to grocery prices and pull an advertisement featuring the conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. On Friday night, the El-Sayed campaign said she was not welcome. On Saturday, Mr El-Sayed denounced the ad. On Sunday morning, Ms Stevens said, Mr Rogers called and invited her to Detroit.
The Michigan Democratic Party said it “stands united and fully behind Abdul El-Sayed.” Representative Pete Hertel said: “Haley Stevens and Jason Turkish are not Democrats. They are Republican operatives.” Ms Stevens’s chief of staff, Justin German, and communications director, Logan Basch, resigned. Mr German said he “wholeheartedly support[s] and am working to elect” Mr El-Sayed.
The race may decide control of the Senate. Mr Rogers and Mr El-Sayed have courted Black voters in Detroit and Jewish voters in the suburbs, with both parties warning that turnout among these constituencies will determine the outcome.
Mr Rogers appeared with Ms Stevens without addressing the split. Ms Stevens said her decision was final.