Democrats condemn Haley Stevens over endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers

Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens has drawn sharp criticism from party leaders after endorsing Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in the closing days of the election. Stevens, who narrowly lost the Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, backed his opponent following a dispute involving an outside group’s campaign advertisement.

The advertisement linked the high cost of living to US support for Israel. Stevens had made her participation in a campaign event conditional on El-Sayed condemning it. His campaign subsequently withdrew her invitation. Her endorsement of Rogers prompted denunciations from senior Democrats, while President Donald Trump welcomed the decision and suggested she could join the Republican party.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer of New York called the endorsement “a despicable betrayal”. In a social media post, he said Senate Democrats remained united behind El-Sayed, arguing that the Democratic nominee would defend the economic interests of Michigan’s working families. Schumer portrayed Rogers as serving Trump and billionaire donors.

California representative Nancy Pelosi also condemned Stevens, saying her endorsement betrayed Michigan families on healthcare, freedoms and their future. New York mayor Zohran Mamdani said working-class voters’ lives were at stake in Tuesday’s election. He accused Stevens of betraying those voters by supporting the Republican she had previously sought to challenge.

Michigan Democratic party chair Curtis Hertel said in a post that Stevens was no longer a party member and would not be one in the future. In a video shared by Detroit journalist Sam Robinson, Hertel suggested resentment over the primary result was involved, but said there was no reasonable explanation for her decision. Having known Stevens for years, he said the endorsement ran counter to what she had pursued throughout her career.

Michigan Democratic representative Debbie Dingell said residents were concerned about living costs, healthcare and housing. In a statement, she contrasted those priorities with what she described as Stevens’ continuing attempts to attract attention.

Some Democrats and Jewish leaders also criticized the advertisement. But congressional nominees Brad Lander and Daniel Bliss, both Jewish Democrats, released a statement on Sunday urging voters to support El-Sayed without mentioning Stevens. They framed the contest as a choice between a party they accused of encouraging hatred and tolerating Trump’s corruption and authoritarianism, and a candidate offering accountability, affordability and a more equitable democratic future.

Trump praised the endorsement on Truth Social, calling Stevens a “highly respected Democrat”. At a Sunday campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa, he again expressed support for her decision. He said he would welcome her into the Republican party, suggested that might happen and characterized her backing of Rogers as loyalty to Michigan’s people.