Haley Stevens, USA News (London / Michigan): Democrat Congresswoman Haley Stevens of Michigan stunned her party, two days before the midterm elections, by endorsing a Republican candidate in a seat critical to the fight for control of the Senate. Stevens previously called Mike Rogers – the Republican she now endorses – a “rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s dangerous agenda”. After her announcement she was immediately rounded on by her party and former staff, who resigned in protest. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer called the move a “despicable betrayal”. But Donald Trump and the Republican Party were overjoyed by evidence of division among their opponents, ahead of an election which was tipped to see a wave of anti-Maga votes.
Democrat Michigan Representative Haley Stevens, 43, began her political career working for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2008. She was elected to Congress in 2018 and ran for the Democratic Senate primary this year, narrowly losing to the progressive Oxford graduate Abdul el-Sayed. Michigan is considered a swing state, and holding this seat is vital for the Democrats’ hope to win the Senate. Sayed – who may become the first Muslim senator in US history – has become the focus of intense Republican attacks that have tried to portray his vocal criticisms of Israel as antisemitism, and to link him to radical militants.
Ostracised by her decision, Stevens claimed her move to disendorse Sayed stemmed from an election ad produced by a third party, which linked the cost of groceries to the US support for Israel “killing Palestinians”. Stevens said the ad was “antisemitic” and said it “dramatised” an argument that Sayed himself had made. She demanded he explicitly condemn it. In response, Sayed said “that ad was not made by me, and I do not agree with the contents of that ad”, and stated he wanted to talk about issues relevant to Michigan voters. He accused Stevens of “relitigating a primary that ended three months ago” and asked her not to attend any more campaign events.
On Sunday Stevens appeared at a Republican campaign stop for Rogers, stood beside him and announced her endorsement for the United States Senate. She complained that Sayed had made it clear she was not welcome in his campaign. In a video on social media she insisted she was still a proud Democrat. Her move prompted severe backlash, with her congressional chief of staff and entire office resigning, calling themselves shocked and heartbroken. Senate Democrats reaffirmed their united support for Abdul el-Sayed as polling showed continued intense political competition in the state.
