Stevens Defends Late Rogers Endorsement Amid El-sayed Feud
WHO:
The New York Times - Haley Stevens said she is considering converting to Judaism; her fiancé, Jason Turkish, is Jewish and an AIPAC donor.
The New York Times - Michigan Democratic operative Lonnie Scott said Stevens’s endorsement had made the Senate race a “spectacle” three days before the election.
The New York Times - Mike Rogers said Stevens’s endorsement surprised him and that he was “honored” to have her support.
Fox News - Mehdi Hasan called Stevens a “train wreck” during the interview; Republican CNN contributor Shermichael Singleton said he felt sorry for her.
The New York Times - Representative Haley Stevens, a Democrat from Michigan, endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, her former primary opponent Abdul El-Sayed’s general-election rival.
Fox News - Stevens said she remained a “really proud Democrat” and that El-Sayed had “every other Democrat with him,” except her and “a few other people who love this party.”
The New York Times - El-Sayed narrowly defeated Stevens in the Democratic Senate primary; the article described the primary as bitter and focused partly on disagreements over Israel.
The New York Times - Stevens’s fiancé, Jason Turkish, endorsed Rogers and said El-Sayed would make the world less safe for Jews.
The New York Times - Representative James E. Clyburn, Representative Debbie Dingell, Representative Jamie Raskin, and former Michigan governor James Blanchard were among Democrats involved in efforts to manage or resolve the dispute.
Fox News - CNN host Anderson Cooper questioned Stevens about her endorsement; Dingell later called Stevens’s interview one of the “most painful” she had watched.
WHAT:
The New York Times - After the primary, Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed appeared together at a unity breakfast; El-Sayed later hired several of her campaign staff members.
The New York Times - Ray Wert asked Stevens to publish an essay criticizing Rogers in a Jewish news outlet. Stevens initially approved the draft, then wrote, “Pls hold for now” and said she could not move forward.
The New York Times - AIPAC spent at least $30 million attacking El-Sayed during the primary and began spending more starting in October.
The New York Times - El-Sayed said Stevens “seems intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago.”
The New York Times - Stevens and Rogers sat together in the second pew through an hourlong service; Rogers invoked Martin Luther King Jr. and said, “I’m glad I’m not running against Haley Stevens today.”
Fox News - Stevens disputed Dingell’s account of a late-night conversation, saying, “I wasn’t on the phone, I think, that late,” and adding, “Nothing with me changed, Anderson.”
Fox News - Hasan Piker accused Stevens on X of being “weirdly obsessed with Israel.”
The New York Times - Stevens appeared at a Detroit church with Rogers and announced her endorsement, saying, “I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign.”
Fox News - Stevens described the endorsement as “a weight off my shoulders” and said she woke up “clear-eyed, fresh and focused on what was in my heart.”
The New York Times - El-Sayed publicly said he did not want Stevens at a planned church appearance, saying, “I don’t want any distractions.”
The New York Times - Stevens said El-Sayed had made clear she was unwelcome and had said he did not need or want her in his campaign.
Fox News - Stevens called a Rebellion PAC ad “very painful” and described El-Sayed’s anger and lack of kindness as reasons for her decision. The ad linked U.S. support for Israel to rising grocery prices.
Fox News - El-Sayed said he disagreed with the ad’s contents; his campaign said it was not affiliated with it. Stevens demanded that he condemn the ad.
The New York Times - Stevens also called on El-Sayed to apologize for Israel-related comments and remove a campaign ad featuring Tucker Carlson.
The New York Times - Stevens’s congressional staff resigned en masse after her endorsement; Michigan Democratic Party chairman said she was expelled from the party, and Chuck Schumer called the endorsement “a despicable betrayal.”
Fox News - Michigan consultant Adrian Hemond said the endorsement would have had more impact earlier, adding that “More than 2 million people have already voted.”
WHERE:
The New York Times - Stevens and Rogers attended a service at a Black church in Detroit; El-Sayed attended a separate service in Detroit.
Fox News - The Senate contest is in Michigan.
WHEN:
The New York Times - Stevens announced her endorsement on Sunday, after El-Sayed said on Saturday that he did not want her at the church event.
The New York Times - The article reported that Stevens had narrowly lost the primary in August and that a poll published Sunday showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by 11 percentage points.
Fox News - Dingell said she spoke with Stevens the night before the endorsement and that Stevens had told her she would not endorse Rogers.
WHY:
The New York Times - Stevens said she felt excluded because El-Sayed’s campaign did not invite her to campaign events or seek her views.
The New York Times - Stevens said she had been promised El-Sayed would denounce the PAC ad, but declined to identify who made the promise.
New York Post - Stevens said her endorsement responded to El-Sayed’s “obsessive” focus on Israel.
The New York Times - The dispute involved Israel policy, the Rebellion PAC ad, and Stevens’s view that El-Sayed’s campaign excluded her.
HOW:
The New York Times - Stevens called Rogers on Sunday morning and asked to attend church with him; she announced the endorsement in an online video during the service and spoke to reporters afterward.
Fox News - Cooper questioned Stevens about an August post in which she had called Rogers a “rubber stamp” for Trump’s agenda and opposed giving Republicans another Senate seat.
(UPDATED November 2, 2026 20:09 UTC)
Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers after losing her Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed. She cited exclusion and disagreements over Israel, deepening a bitter campaign rift. Stevens faced fierce backlash, while Rogers welcomed her support.
--
(UPDATED November 2, 2026 19:03 UTC)
Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, her former opponent. She cited bitter clashes with Abdul El-Sayed over Israel and feeling unwelcome. Her endorsement triggered staff resignations and party backlash, as voting was underway.