Stevens Backs Rogers in Michigan Senate Race as Midterm Campaigns Hit Turbulence
Democratic U.S. Representative Haley Stevens has broken sharply with her party on the eve of Election Day, endorsing Republican Mike Rogers for the Senate and appearing alongside him at a Detroit campaign event. The last-minute reversal follows a bitter rift with her primary opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, whom Stevens narrowly lost to in August. Tensions between the two Democrats escalated after Stevens demanded El-Sayed condemn an outside political advertisement linking U.S. military aid for Israel to domestic grocery prices, calling the messaging antisemitic. El-Sayed stated he disagreed with the ad and had no role in creating it, subsequently asking Stevens to remain away from his campaign events.
Responding to her exclusion, Stevens posted a video announcing her departure from the Democratic campaign and her endorsement of Rogers. Pressed by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper about her reversal—having warned voters just months earlier that Rogers would rubber-stamp a dangerous Republican agenda—Stevens cited an accumulation of anger and a lack of kindness within her former party’s top leadership. The fallout was immediate. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer denounced the move as a “despicable betrayal,” while DNC Chair Ken Martin labeled it a political stunt. El-Sayed downplayed the defection, telling reporters he remained focused on policy rather than intraparty politics. Meanwhile, Donald Trump celebrated the crossover endorsement during a weekend rally in Iowa, where the former president also targeted El-Sayed with remarks regarding his Muslim faith.
The political maneuverings unfolded as campaigns raced through the final weekend before Tuesday’s polls, bringing unexpected controversies across the country. In Alaska, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan stated he would accept the outcome of his reelection race against Democratic challenger Mary Peltola regardless of the result, even as he continued to accuse Democrats of attempting to rig the election. The race has drawn national scrutiny due to a ballot complication featuring two candidates named Dan Sullivan—the incumbent Republican and a retired teacher sharing the same name. A federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit that sought to set aside votes for the second Sullivan for investigation and block certification if the Republican senator loses, though federal officials have appealed the ruling.
In aviation news, tragedy struck Palm Beach County, Florida, when a private Bombardier Learjet 60 crashed on a roadway Sunday afternoon, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when air traffic control recordings captured the pilot reporting icing and moderate turbulence before requesting a climb to 37,000 feet, moments before the plane entered a steep descent. The National Transportation Safety Board deployed investigators to determine the cause of the disaster.
Legal proceedings also drew attention as the Idaho Supreme Court prepared to hear arguments from Lori Vallow Daybell, who is seeking to overturn her three life sentences for the murders of her two children and conspiracy in the death of her husband’s former wife. Her defense attorneys argued she was denied a speedy trial and her choice of counsel, while prosecutors defended the convictions stemming from the high-profile 2019 case.
On the athletic front, the New York City Marathon concluded with record-breaking participation as nearly 60,000 runners completed the 26.2-mile course. Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui defended her title to win the women’s division in two hours and 24 minutes, while Sweden’s Andreas Almgren captured the men’s crown in 2:06:01 during his marathon debut, becoming the first Swedish runner to win the event. American competitors also excelled, with Jessica McClain finishing second among women—the highest podium finish for an American woman in eight years—and Zouhair Talbi securing sixth place in the men’s race with the fastest time ever recorded by an American on the course.
