Democrat Haley Stevens Endorses GOP's Mike Rogers In Tight Michigan Senate Race
Rep. Haley Stevens formally endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate in Michigan on Sunday, November 1, 2026, two days before the election.[1] Stevens released a video saying she backed Rogers after Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed told her she was "no longer welcome" in his campaign.[2] She appeared at a Detroit church service with Rogers and his wife.[1]
Stevens tied the break to El-Sayed's association with streamer Hasan Piker and demanded that El-Sayed reject and apologize for a Cenk Uygur campaign ad.[2] El-Sayed's campaign said he had nothing to do with the Uygur ad and criticized its contents on October 31, 2026.[2] Stevens attended a Detroit church service north of the city with Rogers and his wife while El-Sayed appeared separately at another Detroit church event.[1] The Associated Press described the two services as a "dramatic split-screen" as Democrats tried to project unity.[1]
Stevens had publicly reaffirmed only days earlier that she would vote for El-Sayed despite disagreements over his comments on Israel.[1] She said she skipped a planned joint appearance with El-Sayed and Rep. James Clyburn after issuing a Friday ultimatum over the Uygur ad.[2] Following her church appearance and endorsement, her longtime chief of staff resigned and additional staff departures were expected, according to a person familiar with internal developments.[1] El-Sayed, speaking outside a "Souls to the Polls" event, downplayed the move and said "None of this matters" while refocusing his messaging on economic concerns.[2]
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer publicly called Stevens' endorsement a "despicable betrayal." NPR Stevens' fiance, Jason Turkish, attended the church service and said he plans to vote for Rogers because he believes El-Sayed did not adequately address concerns in the Jewish community.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Rep. Haley Stevens formally endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate in Michigan, releasing a video saying she was endorsing Rogers after Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed told her she was "no longer welcome" in his campaign (Rep. Haley Stevens).
- Stevens tied her break with El-Sayed to his association with streamer Hasan Piker and demanded that El-Sayed reject and apologize for a recent Cenk Uygur ad; El-Sayed's campaign said he had nothing to do with the ad and criticized its content on Saturday, October 31, 2026 (Cenk Uygur ad).
- Stevens attended a Detroit church service north of the city on November 1, 2026, with Mike Rogers and his wife while Abdul El-Sayed appeared separately at another Detroit church event — the Associated Press described it as a "dramatic split-screen" as Democrats tried to project unity.
- Stevens' longtime chief of staff resigned following her church appearance and endorsement on November 1, 2026, and additional staff departures were expected, according to a person familiar with internal developments (longtime chief of staff).
- Stevens' fiancé, Jason Turkish, attended the church service on November 1, 2026, said he plans to vote for Rogers, and argued that El-Sayed had not adequately addressed concerns in the Jewish community (Jason Turkish).
- Speaking outside a "Souls to the Polls" event at a Detroit church on November 1, 2026, Abdul El-Sayed publicly downplayed Stevens' move — saying "None of this matters" and refocusing his messaging on economic concerns (Abdul El-Sayed).
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer publicly condemned Stevens' endorsement of Mike Rogers, calling it a "despicable betrayal" (Chuck Schumer).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
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- On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Rep. Haley Stevens released a video explicitly endorsing Republican Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate and citing that Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed said she was "no longer welcome" in his campaign.
- Stevens tied her break with El-Sayed to his association with streamer Hasan Piker, saying she does "not stand with Hasan Piker" after Piker's August comments implying Jews' support for Israel puts them at risk of violence.
- The article details that Stevens demanded El-Sayed reject and apologize for a recent Cenk Uygur ad blaming Israel for high U.S. grocery prices; El-Sayed's campaign said he had nothing to do with the ad and criticized its contents on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
- El-Sayed, speaking outside a "Souls to the Polls" event at a Detroit church on Sunday, November 1, 2026, publicly downplayed Stevens' move, telling reporters he does not think about her and that voters do not either, saying "None of this matters" while refocusing on economic concerns.
- Stevens said she was originally scheduled to appear Sunday at a separate Detroit church event with El-Sayed and Rep. James Clyburn but skipped it after her Friday ultimatum over the Uygur ad, while that unity event proceeded without her.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer publicly condemned Stevens' decision, calling her endorsement of Rogers a "despicable betrayal," according to the article.
- On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Rep. Haley Stevens formally endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate in Michigan, two days before the election.
- Stevens announced the endorsement in a video, saying the Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign and that she is therefore endorsing Rogers.
- Stevens attended a Detroit church service north of the city with Rogers and his wife on November 1, 2026, while El-Sayed appeared separately at another Detroit church event with other Democrats.
- The Associated Press observed both church services on November 1, 2026, describing the situation as a 'dramatic split-screen' as Democrats tried to project unity.
- Stevens' longtime chief of staff resigned following her church appearance and endorsement, and additional staff departures are expected, according to a person familiar with internal developments.
- Stevens had publicly reaffirmed only days earlier that she would vote for El-Sayed despite disagreements over his comments on Israel.
- Stevens' fiancé, Jason Turkish, attended the church service and has said he plans to vote for Rogers, arguing El-Sayed has not adequately addressed concerns in the Jewish community.