Democrat Haley Stevens Endorses GOP's Rogers in Michigan
The Facts
- Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers on Sunday, two days before Michigan's election, after sitting with him at a service at Detroit's Perfecting Church instead of appearing with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
- In a video posted to X, Stevens said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign and stated, "I do not stand with Hasan Piker." She added that she remains "a very proud Democrat" who still believes in everything she voted for.
- The rift widened after Stevens pressed El-Sayed to disavow an ad tying U.S. aid to Israel to high grocery prices. El-Sayed said the ad, posted by Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, was not made by his campaign and that he disagreed with its contents.
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The Spin
Democratic narrative
Conceding a primary and then torching the winner two days before polls close makes a mockery of the voters who settled that contest. A personal grievance over a canceled joint appearance is no reason to hand a battleground Senate seat to the opponent, especially one whose values are antithetical to Democrats on every other issue. A party is built on keeping commitments, and abandoning one at the eleventh hour earns the backlash Stevens is facing.
Republican narrative
This is a major victory for Mike Rogers and a powerful moment for Michigan Republicans. Stevens' endorsement sends a clear message: leadership, courage and country must come before party politics. Her willingness to cross party lines demonstrates genuine conviction. Michigan voters deserve bold leadership and common sense, not partisan Democrat machine candidates willing to support a radical like El-Sayed at the expense of the American people.
Cynical narrative
The slogan "country over party" is less principled than these politicians make it out to be. This is for several reasons, notably ambition and hunger for power, which lead candidates to shape-shift based on what the voting map looks like. Another, much darker reason for party-switching is when the corporate, pro-war, two-party system feels threatened. Voters should be wary of candidates who are willing to turn on a dime so easily.
