Detroit – The Michigan Senate contest took an unexpected turn on Sunday when Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens publicly endorsed Republican former congressman Mike Rogers, the GOP nominee challenging Democratic candidate Abdul El‑Sayed. Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary to El‑Sayed, said the endorsement reflected her belief that Rogers would better serve Michigan’s interests.
Backlash from progressive supporters
Left‑wing allies of El‑Sayed quickly condemned the endorsement. Far‑right streamer Hasan Piker posted on X, accusing Stevens of being “weirdly obsessed with Israel” and labeling her a “self‑interested striver” who had been “paid handsomely” for that focus. Piker also claimed the race centered on “solving the affordability crisis, defending democracy, fighting back against the racialized violence all communities have faced since Trump came into power and serving Michigan,” adding that both Stevens and Rogers “serve Trump, and Trump serves the Epstein class.”
Mehdi Hasan, editor‑in‑chief of Zeteo News, echoed the criticism, calling Stevens “clearly a disturbed, deranged, dishonest woman” and describing her as a “complete traitor” to the Democratic establishment. Hasan further suggested that the endorsement was rooted in “Islamophobia” and labeled Stevens “evil.”
Former DNC official joins the criticism
Former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg also urged Democrats to denounce Stevens, writing, “If you supported Haley Stevens now is your time to speak out, denounce her as the Republican she is and apologize for supporting a traitor.”
Context of the controversy
The endorsement followed a contentious advertisement produced by Rebellion PAC, a group founded by Young Turks host Cenk Uygur in support of El‑Sayed. The ad linked U.S. military aid to Israel with rising grocery prices, prompting Stevens to label it antisemitic and demand that El‑Sayed condemn it. El‑Sayed’s campaign clarified that it was not affiliated with the ad and that he disagreed with its contents.
Uygur defended the ad, arguing it targeted Israel rather than Jewish people and accusing reporters of misrepresenting its message. After the endorsement, Uygur claimed Stevens’ only source of power was the Israeli lobby and that she lacked popular support, relying solely on AIPAC money.
Republican response
The Republican National Committee welcomed Stevens’ endorsement. RNC spokesman Hunter Lovell said the move demonstrated Rogers’ appeal beyond traditional Republican voters, stating, “Democrats who feel Abdul has abandoned them have a home with Mike, who is building a winning coalition of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans to save Michigan from El‑Sayed’s radical, terrorist‑sympathizing agenda.”
Reactions from former Obama aides
Former Obama staffers and “Pod Save America” co‑hosts Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor also criticized Stevens. Lovett wrote, “She didn’t feel welcome at a political event, so now she doesn’t care if Democrats win the Senate. She’s against ‘hate’ while supporting one of the most hateful campaigns in memory.” Vietor added that Stevens had demanded El‑Sayed denounce an ad he was not associated with, yet now she was backing a man who called El‑Sayed a terrorist, suggesting she was “fine with bigotry and racism as long as it’s against the right people.”
Personal details and campaign outlook
Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, and former campaign chairman David Kramer have already announced they will vote for Rogers, according to Fox News Digital. When asked by journalist Sam Robinson how she could support a candidate whose positions directly opposed hers, Stevens responded, “Nothing is perfect,” before a heckler in the background shouted, “Stevens is a traitor.” Fox News Digital reached out to El‑Sayed for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
The endorsement adds a new layer of complexity to an already competitive Senate race, highlighting deep divisions within Michigan’s Democratic base and underscoring the strategic calculations of both parties as the election approaches.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
