Democratic, Republican strategists react to Haley Stevens' bombshell endorsement, Alaska race ordeal

As of November 2, 2026, Rep. Haley Stevens, a Democrat from Michigan, endorsed the Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and appeared alongside him at Detroit’s Perfecting Church, causing significant tension within the Democratic party. This endorsement came just days before the midterm elections, during which Abdul El-Sayed, her former primary opponent, is running as the official Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.

The conflict escalated when El-Sayed publicly asked Stevens to stay away from his campaign events and church appearances, stating he did not want any "distractions" before the election. Following these public disputes, Stevens was disinvited from a planned joint rally with El-Sayed in Detroit. Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, had previously endorsed Rogers due to disagreements over Israel policies.

This internal division has drawn attention to broader Democratic party tensions and could impact control of the Senate if Democrats fail to maintain their majority. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries suggested that Stevens might face disciplinary action from her party for supporting a Republican candidate, deepening existing conflicts among Michigan Democrats.