Haley Stevens Defends Shocking Endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) defended her unexpected decision to endorse former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race during a television appearance on Sunday, pointing to rising tensions with her former primary opponent, Abdul El-Sayed.
Appearing on a Sunday broadcast hosted by Anderson Cooper, Stevens faced direct questions about the sudden shift, including an exchange regarding a late-night phone call with fellow Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Cooper pressed Stevens on what transpired between speaking with Dingell and publicly backing Rogers.
“Well, look, this is just a weight off my shoulders, okay? Abdul has been getting angrier and angrier,” Stevens told Cooper, explaining that she had previously attempted to assist El-Sayed’s campaign before concluding she was unwelcome on the trail. She added that some of El-Sayed’s recent remarks solidified her feeling that she did not belong with his campaign.
Asked directly about the timeline of her decision-making process and whether she had spoken with anyone overnight following her conversation with Dingell, Stevens maintained that the choice came down to personal reflection. “I woke up this morning clear-eyed, fresh, and, you know, focused on what was in my heart,” she said, noting that she had spent time alone with her thoughts writing things out.
When Cooper pressed further on the exact catalyst for the change between midnight and morning, Stevens reiterated her concerns about political friction within the party and El-Sayed’s posture toward certain supporters. “This is about Abdul getting angrier and angrier and saying, ‘I don’t want these people in my campaign,'” Stevens said. She emphasized her identity as a proud Democrat who is supporting party candidates up and down the ballot, noting that El-Sayed retains broad backing from other party members.
Stevens’ announcement on Sunday — which followed her attendance at a church service alongside Rogers — immediately generated intense friction within Michigan’s political circles. Critics accused her of breaking ranks with the party and her supporters, with some speculating that her position was influenced by her fiancé, who had previously stated he was voting for Rogers.
Concluding her remarks on the broadcast, Stevens dismissed outside speculation and framed her choice as an individual act of conscience. “The deal is, Anderson, is that, you know what? This is a weight off my shoulders. I’m being straight with everybody. You know, I’m trying to help the Democratic Party,” she said.
