Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens made a bold move on Sunday, November 1, 2026. She publicly endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers over the Democratic nominee. This happened after a public fight with her own party’s candidate, Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens appeared with Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit. She stood by him while he spoke to reporters.
Stevens said her choice was a “personal and private decision for her.” She explained that she could not support a candidate who tolerates hate. “My vote for Senate is going to be with Mike Rogers,” she told the crowd. She added that education is on the ballot for young people. Stevens said she wants to stand with the country, not with hate.
The Party Chair’s Reaction
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel responded quickly to Stevens’ endorsement. He posted a message on social media just an hour after her announcement. “Congresswoman Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future,” he posted. Hertel did not wait for a vote or a meeting. He simply removed her from the party ranks immediately.
This reaction shocked many observers who expected a “big tent” approach. Stevens had called herself a “proud Democrat” only hours before the expulsion. She had supported the party platform for years. Yet Hertel made it clear she would never return. The party seems willing to accept many views, but not dissent from its own nominee.
Why The Split Happened
The trouble started when Stevens asked El-Sayed to condemn an antisemitic ad. The ad linked high grocery prices to U.S. aid for Israel. Stevens told El-Sayed to take back his own offensive language too. El-Sayed said he “disagreed” with the ad but did not condemn it. He told Stevens to stay away from his campaign events.
Stevens had been scheduled to campaign with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn on Sunday. That plan fell apart after El-Sayed disinvited her. A Clyburn adviser said tersely, “This is not Abdul’s event,” per Breitbart News. Stevens then chose to appear with Rogers instead. She said El-Sayed was right to tell her to stay away from his campaign.
El-Sayed tried to downplay the conflict later that day. “None of this matters,” a smirking El-Sayed told reporters. He added that families should focus on everyday life rather than the political distraction. His tone suggested he did not take the split seriously. But the party chair clearly did.
Stevens lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed by just one point. She had endorsed him right after the primary in August. They had appeared together at a unity breakfast then. Now, she has broken with him completely. She told reporters that investing in black businesses was a policy Rogers would take on.
Stevens is now a Democrat without a party home in Michigan. She faces the rest of the election cycle as an independent voice. Rogers expressed that he was “honored to have Haley Stevens’ support.” The race in Michigan remains one of the tightest in the country. Polls show it could swing either way in the final days.
El-Sayed’s campaign has already told Stevens to avoid their events. Stevens said she does not belong in his campaign anyway. She stated she does not stand with Hasan Piker or his views. The Democratic nominee has faced fractures with Jewish and black voters. This event highlights those cracks in the coalition.
Stevens said she woke up on Sunday and decided to go to church. She chose to be with the person she is voting for. That person is Mike Rogers. The question now is whether other Democrats will follow her lead.
