Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens has delivered one of the most unexpected developments of the 2026 midterm election campaign, announcing that she is endorsing Republican Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate instead of her own party’s nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.
The stunning announcement came Sunday, November 1, just 48 hours before voters head to the polls in a closely watched Michigan Senate contest.
Stevens, who lost the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed in August, appeared alongside Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit before publicly confirming her decision to support the Republican.
The endorsement represents a dramatic reversal for a congresswoman who had previously pledged to support El-Sayed following their bitter primary contest.
Stevens explained her decision in a video posted to social media shortly after the church appearance.
She said, “I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate.”
The declaration immediately attracted national attention because Stevens remains a Democratic member of Congress and had spent years supporting Democratic candidates and legislative priorities.
Her decision followed several days of increasingly public disagreements with El-Sayed over campaign messaging, Israel, and controversial political associations.
The conflict escalated after an outside political organization, Rebellion PAC, produced an advertisement connecting American military support for Israel with rising household expenses.
Stevens objected to the advertisement’s message and called for stronger condemnation of rhetoric she considered antisemitic.
The controversy also involved political streamer Hasan Piker, who had previously participated in campaign appearances with El-Sayed.
Piker has faced criticism over past statements about the September 11 terrorist attacks and other political issues.
Stevens identified Piker’s involvement in Democratic political activities as one of the concerns influencing her decision.
During her announcement, she declared, “We have to stand with country. We can’t stand with hate. We can’t stand with Hasan Piker.”
Her remarks placed those disagreements at the center of an endorsement that few political observers anticipated.
The dispute had intensified when Stevens was scheduled to participate in a Sunday campaign event with El-Sayed and Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn.
That appearance was canceled after El-Sayed made clear that he did not want Stevens participating in his campaign events during the final days before Election Day.
Stevens referenced that decision directly in her endorsement announcement.
She stated, “I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign.”
Rather than attending the originally planned Democratic campaign event, Stevens joined Rogers at a Detroit church service.
Photographs showed the two politicians together during the appearance.
The setting added to the unusual nature of the announcement, with a Democratic congresswoman publicly joining the Republican nominee in a major Senate contest.
Rogers, a former Republican congressman and former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, welcomed the endorsement.
He described the development as a matter of shared concerns about Michigan and the country’s future.
Rogers also acknowledged that Stevens continued to identify herself as a Democrat.
According to his account, she reminded him during their conversation that her party affiliation had not changed.
Stevens likewise emphasized that she had not abandoned all of her Democratic political positions.
Her decision was specifically directed at the Senate contest between Rogers and El-Sayed.
The congressional district she currently represents has been part of her political career since 2019.
Stevens became nationally known after winning a Republican-held seat during the 2018 midterm elections.
She subsequently established herself as a prominent figure among Michigan Democrats, particularly on manufacturing and economic issues.
Her unsuccessful 2026 Senate primary campaign placed her against El-Sayed in a contest that exposed significant differences within the state party.
El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, defeated Stevens in a close primary after receiving support from progressive activists and organizations.
The primary included substantial spending by outside political organizations and heated disagreements over American policy toward Israel.
Although Stevens initially supported the Democratic ticket after losing, those disagreements continued into the general election.
Her endorsement of Rogers now puts those divisions in public view at a critical moment in the campaign.
The fallout extended into Stevens’ own congressional office.
Her longtime chief of staff resigned following the endorsement, and additional staff departures were reported.
The announcement also drew a response from President Donald Trump.
During campaign appearances Sunday, Trump praised Stevens’ decision and suggested he would welcome her into the Republican Party.
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