Stevens reverses course on El-Sayed

Rep. Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, just two days before the election, withdrawing her earlier endorsement of Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.

Stevens had backed El-Sayed after primary loss

After losing the Michigan Senate primary to El-Sayed by less than one percentage point in August, Stevens endorsed him and pledged her support in the general election.

Israel disputes divided the candidates

Stevens, a longtime Israel champion, and El-Sayed, a vocal Gaza war critic, clashed over Israel policy throughout the primary. AIPAC spent more than thirty million dollars backing Stevens.

A controversial PAC ad reignited tensions

On October twenty-third, a pro-El-Sayed PAC released an ad Stevens viewed as antisemitic, claiming government money spent on Israel was preventing help for Americans. El-Sayed initially disavowed it without condemning it.

The ad was made by a left-wing commentator

The controversial ad was put out by Cenk Uygur, a left-wing commentator who is the uncle of streamer Hasan Piker. It was reused from two thousand twenty-four and had little money behind it.

Stevens demanded stronger condemnation

Stevens wanted El-Sayed to unambiguously condemn the ad rather than simply disavow it. Her fiancé Jason Turkish, a Democratic donor, publicly denounced it as antisemitic.

Stevens issued an ultimatum on Friday

On Friday morning, Stevens posted a statement praising El-Sayed's expected condemnation of the ad and promising to campaign with him Sunday. Democrats viewed it as an ultimatum.

“A unifying moment has arrived, our democratic nominee for U.S Senate disavows the Rebellion PAC ad made by Hasan Piker's uncle that claims Jews are responsible for America's economic woes.”

El-Sayed refused to play ball

By Friday evening, El-Sayed's campaign announced the unity event was off and Stevens should stay away to avoid causing a distraction. El-Sayed called the primary dispute irrelevant.

“Our campaign is and always has been focused on addressing the most critical challenges Michiganders are facing. Congresswoman Stevens seems intent on litigating a primary that ended three months ago.”

Stevens appeared with Rogers on Sunday

On Sunday, Stevens appeared with Rogers at a Detroit church where she praised his record helping Black communities. She then released a video endorsing Rogers.

Stevens cited El-Sayed's rejection

In her endorsement video, Stevens mentioned how El-Sayed told her to stay away from his campaign. She said Michigan values are not hate and not what the Democratic nominee represents.

“Who we are as Michiganders is not hate, and is not what we are getting out from our Democratic nominee right now.”

Democrats swiftly denounced Stevens

Within hours, Stevens was ostracized from the party. Her chief of staff Justin German and more than half her congressional staff resigned in protest of her endorsement.

Michigan Democrats expelled Stevens

Michigan's Democratic Party chair declared that Stevens was no longer a member of the party and would not be permitted to rejoin it. The move was unprecedented.

Schumer called it a despicable betrayal

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who had strongly favored Stevens in the primary, called her actions a despicable betrayal and stressed party unity behind El-Sayed.

“a despicable betrayal”

Longtime allies turned on Stevens

Neera Tanden, who had defended Stevens online during the primary, called her endorsement a betrayal of everything Stevens fought for. Former Rep. Susan Wild said she was shocked and appalled.

Wild questioned Stevens's new relationship

Wild, who had been Stevens's roommate, suggested Stevens's fiancé Jason Turkish influenced her decision. She said any woman who abandons friends for a new relationship is no friend at all.

“If this is because of her new relationship, all I can say is that any woman who abandons her friends when a new guy comes along is no friend at all.”

Democrats questioned Stevens's double standard

Critics including Schumer noted Stevens overlooked Rogers's lack of condemnation of Islamophobic attacks on El-Sayed. Trump has repeatedly called El-Sayed a jihadist.

The fight threatens Democratic factional battles

El-Sayed is one of the first Bernie Sanders wing candidates nominated in a competitive statewide race. His performance is under heavy scrutiny by moderates and progressives.

Stevens's move complicates the narrative

If El-Sayed loses or underperforms, Democrats may blame Stevens instead of his progressivism. Analyst Nate Silver said the intraparty debate will likely follow that path.

“Ironically if El-Sayed loses it will now be much harder to blame his progressivism since people can just blame Haley Stevens instead.”