Haley Stevens Switches Senate Endorsement to Republican Mike Rogers

Haley Stevens, the Michigan congresswoman, switched her endorsement in the U.S. Senate race to Republican Mike Rogers on Election Day. She made the change via a video recorded inside her car, a decision that surprised her closest colleagues and contradicted her public promises made just days earlier. Stevens had previously pledged her support to Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination.

The shift followed a series of conflicting signals. On Sunday, Stevens announced she would appear with El-Sayed and Representative Jim Clyburn at a church event. In a written statement, she urged El-Sayed to apologize for remarks that echoed arguments in an ad criticizing U.S. support for Israel. She wrote, "He can begin by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford." She added, "I say this with no race to run and nothing to gain."

By Monday morning, Stevens had agreed to avoid media appearances. In a text exchange with Jordan Acker, a former University of Michigan regent and friend, she promised, "No statement.. Everything good." She assured Acker she would not engage with the press. However, less than two hours later, she appeared at a different church event with Rogers. Acker texted her, "You're at a black church with Mike Rogers??" She did not reply immediately but instead filmed a video stating she was changing her endorsement.

Stevens described the decision as a "moment of clear conscience." She told reporters she had been hearing from constituents who shared concerns about El-Sayed. She clarified that she did not have Rogers's phone number and denied any secret coordination between the two camps. She stated, "That's the whole point, right?" referring to the normalcy of bipartisan conversation.

The reversal raised questions about her relationship with Jason Turkish, her fiancé. Turkish, a disability-rights lawyer and Democratic fundraiser, had endorsed Rogers two days before the election. Former campaign adviser Caitlin Legacki criticized Turkish's influence on Stevens's staff and decision-making. Legacki described Turkish as a "toxic presence" who pushed Stevens to defend Israel more forcefully during the primary.

Stevens had lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed by 13,792 votes. She conceded the race and initially endorsed El-Sayed to help him defeat Rogers. That endorsement was seen as a standard move to unify the party for the general election. The Senate seat was viewed as a key target for Democrats seeking to reclaim control of the chamber.

Debbie Dingell, a Michigan congresswoman, expressed concern over Stevens's actions in a televised interview. Charlotte Alter, who wrote about Stevens in a book on the 2018 Democratic class, described the situation on social media as a "body-snatcher moment." Alter noted the speed at which Stevens's political career appeared to unravel.

Acker and Stevens have known each other since high school. They worked together in the Obama Administration and on the Michigan Democratic Coordinated Campaign in 2006. Acker had voted for Stevens in the primary but remained undecided on the general election. He told Stevens to stop doing press because it had become a "sideshow." Stevens replied that the issue of antisemitism in the party was "a cancer." The final text from Acker noted that the issue was "not being excised before Tuesday and probably not before 2028."

Stevens appeared cheerful and busy during an interview on Election Day. She was at a polling place with her mother and waiting for her father to arrive. She confirmed she was voting for El-Sayed despite her new endorsement of Rogers. She said the decision allowed her to support the candidate she believed would win while also acknowledging the concerns of her constituents.