Democrat Haley Stevens endorses Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate race two days before vote; her chief of staff quits
Rep. Haley Stevens backed Republican Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed two days out, in a toss-up race that could decide control of the Senate.
At a glance
- Rep. Haley Stevens, who narrowly lost the August Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, November 1, after attending church with him in Detroit.
- The rift is over US support for Israel and an outside group's advert. Stevens says El-Sayed made clear she was not welcome in his campaign.
- Her chief of staff, Justin German, resigned at once and urged voters to back El-Sayed. He said many other staff had left too.
- Chuck Schumer called the move a 'despicable betrayal'; President Trump praised it. A recent poll had El-Sayed ahead 49%-42%.
- Michigan is rated a toss-up, and about 1.9 million ballots had already been cast in the state before the endorsement.
Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for the US Senate on Sunday, November 1, 2026, turning against her own party's nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, two days before voters decide a Michigan race that could determine who controls the chamber. Stevens, who narrowly lost to El-Sayed in the August primary, appeared with Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit.
Her congressional chief of staff, Justin German, resigned immediately and urged Michiganders to vote for El-Sayed. He said many others in her office had quit as well.
"Not welcome": how the unity event collapsed
Stevens had endorsed El-Sayed after the primary, as she had promised, and earlier this week said she would still vote for him. That changed within days.
Her fiance, Jason Turkish, a Jewish Democrat and civil rights lawyer, announced he would vote for Rogers, citing rising antisemitism. Meanwhile an advert from an outside group, Rebellion PAC, showed a couple debating whether they could afford groceries because of US support for Israel, and the dispute over it turned into a public fight between the two camps. El-Sayed's campaign says it had no involvement in the advert.
Stevens had been due to join El-Sayed and South Carolina Representative Jim Clyburn at a Sunday "unity" service in Detroit. Representative Debbie Dingell, who helped organise it, said she withdrew the invitation because the row had become too distracting.
Stevens gave her reasons in a video and to reporters afterwards. She said El-Sayed had made it clear she was not welcome, and that she would not stand with Hasan Piker, a contentious political commentator who has campaigned with him. "We can't stand with hate," she said, referring to the feud over Israel. Stevens is a firm supporter of Israel; El-Sayed has called its conduct in Gaza after the October 7 attacks a genocide.
Who said what on Sunday
| Person | Position | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Rogers | Republican nominee | Called the endorsement "courage in politics" |
| Abdul El-Sayed | Democratic nominee | Said he does not think about Stevens and is focused on families' costs |
| Chuck Schumer | Senate Democratic leader | "A despicable betrayal"; said Democrats are united behind El-Sayed |
| Curtis Hertel | Michigan Democratic chair | Said she has abandoned everything she claims to care about |
| Debbie Dingell | Michigan congresswoman | Said Rogers "loved every minute" of the infighting |
| Ronna McDaniel | Former Republican national chair | Praised her for putting the state before party |
| Donald Trump | US president | Praised the endorsement on social media and called her following "huge" |
Schumer, who had preferred Stevens in the primary, also accused Republicans of Islamophobic attacks on El-Sayed, who would be the first Muslim member of the US Senate if elected.
Where the switch could actually matter
The seat is open because Democratic Senator Gary Peters is retiring, and race raters list Michigan among the toss-ups. A recent poll put El-Sayed ahead 49% to 42%, though single polls this late should be read with care.
The timing limits the effect in one way: early voting has been under way since October 24, and about 1.9 million Michigan ballots had already been cast before Sunday. But the argument lands in the places Democrats most need. Stevens beat El-Sayed in Wayne County, which includes Detroit, and in neighbouring Oakland County in August, drawing support from Black and Jewish voters. Turnout in those two counties could be decisive.
| Michigan Senate race | Detail |
|---|---|
| Election day | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 |
| Republican | Mike Rogers |
| Democrat | Abdul El-Sayed |
| Outgoing senator | Gary Peters (Democrat), not seeking re-election |
| Rating | Toss-up |
| Latest poll cited | El-Sayed 49%, Rogers 42% |
The row has taken over the final weekend of a Democratic campaign that wanted to close on everyday costs.
Why Michigan is one of the seats to watch on Tuesday
Control of the Senate depends on 11 battlegrounds, with Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Alaska rated toss-ups. Republicans hold a narrow majority, and Democrats need gains to win control for the final two years of Trump's term.
Michigan's polls close on Tuesday evening. Stevens stays in the House until her term ends in January.
Questions people are asking
Why did Haley Stevens endorse Mike Rogers?
Stevens says El-Sayed told her she was not welcome in his campaign, and she cited their dispute over Israel and what she called hate. She had previously endorsed El-Sayed after losing the primary to him.
Who is running for the Michigan Senate seat in 2026?
The main contenders are Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. They are competing for the open seat of Democratic Senator Gary Peters, who is not seeking re-election, and the vote is on November 3.
