A stunning last minute endorsement switch: inside Democrat Haley Stevens’ abrupt move to Republican Mike Rogers

A rift grows between Democrats

Stevens’ anger toward El-Sayed had built over months, according to friends and people familiar with their relationship. Their differing views on Israel and her feeling of exclusion from his campaign lay at the center of what the Times described as a deeply personal dispute.

After El-Sayed narrowly beat Stevens in the August primary, they appeared united at a breakfast and hugged. Some of her campaign staff later joined his team, but the two politicians communicated less often, people familiar with their relationship told the Times.

Tensions surface before Sunday

In late September, Stevens reportedly withdrew from an opinion piece under her name for a Jewish newspaper that criticized Republican nominee Rogers. Text messages seen by the Times showed her saying she could not proceed with it at that time.

Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell then arranged for Stevens and El-Sayed to attend a Detroit church service led by Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. El-Sayed’s campaign later asked Stevens to avoid future events, saying her presence could distract from the campaign’s central issues.

The immediate break came after Stevens urged El-Sayed to condemn an ad from a PAC that she considered antisemitic. On Saturday, he said he no longer wanted her at their planned Sunday service. Despite that, Stevens told prominent Democrats she still supported him.

Endorsement stuns allies

Rep. Jamie Raskin said he was “totally blindsided” after speaking with Stevens at 10 p.m. Saturday; she had told him she remained behind El-Sayed. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also called Stevens for 25 minutes the previous week as rumors spread that she might withdraw her endorsement, Politico reported.

Instead, Stevens attended church with Rogers and announced her endorsement of him in a post on X. She said she had decided that morning to go to church and was there with the person she would vote for in the Senate race. Rogers’ team learned of the decision as it became public.

Stevens later told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that she woke Sunday feeling clear-eyed and focused on what was in her heart. The switch rocked her party near Election Day, while the GOP was described as “euphoric.” Donald Trump praised Stevens’ decision in a post.