Haley Stevens, a Democratic congresswoman from Michigan, has endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers just days before the US midterm elections. Her decision has sparked anger within the Democratic Party and raised fresh questions about a key Senate race.
Stevens announced her support for Rogers on Sunday. She chose him over Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee who defeated her in the party’s Senate primary in August. The race is one of the most closely watched contests in the election.
The move came after weeks of tension between Stevens and El-Sayed over Israel and the war in Gaza. Their dispute has become a major issue in the final days of the campaign, as Democrats seek to win control of Congress and limit President Donald Trump’s power.
Stevens had earlier promised to support El-Sayed despite losing the primary. As recently as Wednesday, she said she wanted him to win. Her decision to back a Republican instead has drawn criticism from senior Democrats and members of her own team.
The dispute grew after an advertisement linked US military aid to Israel with the rising cost of living in America. The advertisement was released by Rebellion PAC, an independent political group supporting El-Sayed.
The ad showed a couple shopping for food. They decided to put back a carton of eggs because they needed the money for what the ad described as “killing Palestinians.” The message linked spending on Israel to the cost pressures faced by American families.
Stevens called the advertisement anti-Semitic and demanded that El-Sayed condemn it. She also criticised his calls to spend less on aid to Israel and more on schools, health care and child care.
El-Sayed said the advertisement was not made by his campaign. He also said he disagreed with its message. He accused Stevens of trying to reopen their primary fight instead of focusing on defeating Rogers.
The disagreement followed an already bitter primary campaign. Stevens is a strong supporter of Israel, while El-Sayed has strongly criticised Israel’s war in Gaza and US military aid to the country.
The issue played a major role in the primary. A political group linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent tens of millions of dollars to support Stevens. El-Sayed went on to win the Democratic nomination.
The dispute reached a new level on Sunday. Stevens and El-Sayed were expected to attend a church service in Detroit as a show of party unity. However, Stevens was told not to attend.
In a video posted on social media, Stevens said El-Sayed’s campaign had told her she was no longer welcome. She said she accepted that decision and announced her support for Rogers.
However, Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell offered a different account. Dingell, who helped arrange the church event, said she had asked Stevens not to attend because the dispute had become too distracting.
During a television interview on Sunday, Stevens said El-Sayed had become increasingly angry. She also accused him of actions she viewed as anti-Semitic. El-Sayed has rejected the suggestion that he should be held responsible for the independent group’s advertisement.
Stevens also criticised El-Sayed’s association with political streamer Hasan Piker. She said she could not support what she viewed as hate. Despite endorsing Rogers, Stevens insisted she remained a Democrat and planned to vote for Democratic candidates in about 90 percent of the other races on her ballot.
The endorsement drew a sharp response from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. He called the move a “despicable betrayal” and said Senate Democrats remained united behind El-Sayed.
Schumer urged voters to focus on health care, civil rights and policies that affect working families. He also pointed to Rogers’ support from Trump as a reason for Democrats to oppose the Republican candidate.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said Stevens’ decision was a betrayal of party values. He accused Rogers of supporting an agenda that would hurt working families and said Democrats needed to remain united.
The Michigan Democratic Party also criticised Stevens. Its chair, Curtis Hertel, said her decision to campaign with Rogers showed she had abandoned the values she claimed to support.
The backlash has also affected Stevens’ office. Justin German, who had served as her chief of staff for eight years, said he and several other staff members had resigned over her endorsement of Rogers.
Stevens did not directly confirm the reported resignations during her television interview. Instead, she said her office was going through a transition as she prepares to leave Congress in January.
The endorsement has added another layer of tension to an already heated Senate race. With voters preparing to cast their ballots, the dispute may test party unity and shape the final days of the campaign. The outcome will also affect the wider fight for control of the US Senate.
