Democrat Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate Race, Two Days Before the Midterms
She lost the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed. On Sunday, in a Detroit church and then on video, his former rival crossed the aisle - and her own party's leader called it a despicable betrayal.
Rep. Haley Stevens, who lost Michigan's Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed his Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, on Sunday, USA TODAY reported - a cross-party endorsement in a battleground race that could help decide control of the U.S. Senate.
Stevens, who called herself a very proud Democrat, said in a video post on social media that she does not belong in El-Sayed's campaign, calling the race the conscience of the Senate and a Michigan moment, USA TODAY reported. Both candidates had been expected at a joint church event on Sunday with Rep. James Clyburn, but El-Sayed's campaign had asked Stevens not to attend after she released an Oct. 30 statement calling on El-Sayed to condemn an ad from an outside political action committee. Instead, Stevens and her fiance attended a church service with Rogers and his wife at Perfecting Church on Detroit's east side, and Rogers said at a press availability that he was proud to earn her vote. Stevens attributed her opposition in part to El-Sayed's campaigning with streamer Hasan Piker, USA TODAY reported.
The reaction split the parties in public within hours. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the endorsement a despicable betrayal, USA TODAY's election live file reported, while President Donald Trump praised Stevens, called the endorsement brave, said he had contacted her to thank her, and urged her to join the Republican Party. El-Sayed said he was less interested in the campaign back-and-forth than in the cost of living and other issues. Michigan votes Tuesday, in midterm elections that will decide which party controls Congress for the final two years of Trump's presidency.
