U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) has officially endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, creating a significant shakeup in Michigan’s closely watched Senate race just two days before the midterm elections. The unexpected endorsement, which Stevens announced via social media, follows an escalating dispute between the congresswoman and Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who narrowly defeated her in the party’s primary earlier this year. Control of the U.S. Senate is at stake in the upcoming elections, making every competitive race critical.
"I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today." Haley Stevens, U.S. Representative (D-MI)
Stevens had previously endorsed El-Sayed and publicly stated her desire to keep the Senate seat in Democratic hands. However, tensions grew over campaign messaging, particularly concerning Israel and economic issues affecting Michigan. The disagreements ultimately led to the cancellation of a planned Democratic unity event for Sunday, which was intended to feature Stevens, El-Sayed, and Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina in a final push to encourage voters. Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan had also been involved in organizing the event.
The core of the dispute involved an advertisement produced by Rebellion PAC, an outside political organization not affiliated with El-Sayed’s campaign. The advertisement connected American financial assistance to Israel with rising grocery prices in Michigan. Stevens condemned this messaging as antisemitic and demanded a stronger, more explicit response from El-Sayed. El-Sayed’s campaign maintained that it did not produce the advertisement and disagreed with its contents, but this explanation reportedly failed to satisfy Stevens.
On Friday, Stevens issued a pointed criticism of her former primary opponent. “Abdul promises to get money out of politics. He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford,” Stevens stated. She further argued that merely distancing himself from the advertisement was not equivalent to explicitly condemning it. In response to the ongoing friction, El-Sayed’s campaign subsequently asked Stevens to refrain from attending its remaining campaign events, citing concerns that the dispute had become a distraction. Congresswoman Dingell later confirmed advising Stevens against attending the planned joint appearance, describing the controversy as a “total distraction” that had upset the church’s bishop.
The political fallout extended into Stevens’ personal life as well. Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, publicly announced his intention to vote for Rogers, citing concerns about El-Sayed’s handling of campaign rhetoric involving Israel and the Jewish community. Stevens subsequently acknowledged that her household was politically divided. During a late October appearance on CNN, she maintained her desire for the Democratic nominee to win, while also acknowledging that some voters remained undecided due to the controversy.
Despite her earlier statements, Stevens’ appearance alongside Rogers on Sunday at Perfecting Church in Detroit marked a significant public break from the Democratic campaign. The two attended a family and friends service on Detroit’s east side, accompanied by Rogers’ wife, Kristi, and Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish. During the church service, Stevens discussed the importance of investment for Black-owned businesses and appeared to praise Rogers’ policy direction. She was quoted saying, “And that’s the policy that Mike’s going to take on.”
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Stevens explicitly confirmed her shift in support via a social media post, stating: "I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today." This direct endorsement cemented the dramatic turn of events.
The controversy arrives at a particularly sensitive moment for Michigan Democrats. Recent public polling averages cited in the report showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by approximately four to five-and-a-half percentage points, though several individual surveys indicated a closer contest. The dispute has diverted attention from the candidates’ policy platforms toward internal divisions within the Democratic Party.
For El-Sayed, the development represents an unwelcome distraction in the crucial final stretch of a competitive campaign. For Rogers, the public association with a prominent Democratic congresswoman offers a striking image of disunity within his opponent’s party. With Election Day set for Tuesday, November 3, Michigan voters will soon determine the impact of this last-minute controversy on the race’s outcome. Regardless of the results, the dispute has transformed what was intended to be a final demonstration of Democratic unity into one of the campaign’s most unexpected developments.
