Mike Rogers dishes on how shock Haley Stevens endorsement unfolded hours before Election Day
Michigan Republican Mike Rogers Wins Endorsement from Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens in a Surprise Turn of Events
In a move that has stunned the state's Democratic Party, Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers announced that Democratic Representative Haley Stevens would be joining his campaign in the upcoming U.S. Senate race. Rogers praised Stevens for putting “America above party” and accused Democrats of launching a “vicious” attack on the congresswoman after she chose to back him over Democratic nominee Abdul El‑Sayed.
The Endorsement
Rogers spoke to Fox News’s “Brian Kilmeade Show” on Monday, saying that Stevens had called him Sunday morning “while I was on my way to church.” He described the call as a “great conversation” and said that, after the call, she decided to endorse his candidacy over El‑Sayed. “It flipped this thing upside down,” Rogers told the show. “This congresswoman just stood up and said, ‘America is more important than my party right now.’”
Rogers also took the opportunity to criticize El‑Sayed, calling him “anti‑Jewish” and “divisive,” and saying that it was wrong to elect a candidate he described as “angry” and “mean about politics.”
Democrats’ Reaction
The endorsement sparked swift backlash from the Democratic leadership. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called the move a “despicable betrayal,” while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said Stevens had “dangerously betrayed Michigan families” by backing a Republican opponent. “She is the only one in the Democrat Party today that has enough common sense to know you elect somebody that hates a group of people this much,” Rogers said, echoing Pelosi’s concerns.
Background on the Rivalry
The rivalry between Rogers and El‑Sayed dates back to the Democratic primary that saw El‑Sayed win by a narrow margin over Stevens. In the weeks after the primary, Stevens did not explicitly endorse El‑Sayed but continued to align publicly with the Democratic Party. In an October interview with CNN, she declined to say she was supporting El‑Sayed and instead emphasized that she was “still on the team” and would back Democrats on the ballot.
Tensions rose during that period when Stevens criticized an outside group’s ad that linked U.S. support for Israel to higher grocery prices, calling it antisemitic. El‑Sayed’s campaign denied responsibility for the ad and said it did not endorse the message.
Stevens’ Fiancé Breaks With El‑Sayed
Days before her endorsement of Rogers, Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, a Jewish attorney and registered Democrat, publicly announced he would vote for Rogers. Turkish told reporters at a Rogers campaign event that El‑Sayed’s rhetoric on Israel had made the Jewish community “less safe,” and he described his decision as “putting country before party.”
The Last-Minute Decision
Fox News Digital reported that hours before the endorsement, Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan said she had spoken to Stevens around midnight Saturday and was told that rumors of an impending Rogers endorsement were untrue. However, hours later, Stevens was seen standing next to Rogers at a church service in Detroit, where she formally announced her endorsement over El‑Sayed.
Rogers said, “We didn’t know what was going to happen. We were driving to the church yesterday morning when the call came in. I just invited her to come in. She decided between when she got in the car and she got to the church, she was going to not only withdraw the endorsement, but endorse me.”
Rogers also denied any exchange of favors, stating that he had no advance knowledge of Stevens’ decision and that “she said, ‘I’ve not asked anyone to go with me, I’m just telling you what I’m doing.’”
Polling Disputes
During the interview, Kilmeade asked Rogers about a New York Times/Siena poll released Sunday that showed El‑Sayed leading him 53‑42 among likely Michigan voters—a margin larger than other surveys. Rogers rejected the figure, citing his campaign’s own polling and modeling, which he said indicated a one‑ or two‑point race. He further argued that the poll underestimated his support among Black voters in Detroit, claiming his campaign had made “great inroads” in that community.
Stevens herself had questioned El‑Sayed’s outreach to Black voters in October, urging him to deliver a speech to the community, a request that, according to her, did not materialize.
A Broader Debate
The endorsement has ignited a broader debate about party loyalty and national versus local interests. Rogers framed his campaign as a choice for “America” over partisan politics, while Democrats warn that backing a candidate who they describe as “anti‑Jewish” and “divisive” could harm the state’s reputation and alienate voters. Stevens’ own words—“America is more important than my party right now” (Rogers, “Brian Kilmeade Show”)—have been cited both as a principled stand and as a political gamble.
As the general election approaches, the Michigan Senate race remains one of the most closely watched contests in the country, with national attention already on the outcome. Whether Stevens’ endorsement will sway voters, or whether the backlash from her Democratic peers will undermine her influence, remains to be seen.
Maine News Now will continue to follow developments in the race.
