Politics1 min read

Haley Stevens endorses GOP candidate in Michigan Senate race, spurning Abdul El-Sayed

By · Via NPR · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The break follows weeks of escalating tension between the two former primary rivals, largely centered on rhetoric concerning Israel. Stevens made the decision after demanding apologies regarding a controversial advertisement by Cenk Uygur and El-Sayed's past campaign appearances with streamer Hasan Piker. In response, high-ranking party figures sharply criticized the move, and Stevens' communications director confirmed his departure from her office.

Key points

  • Haley Stevens broke party ranks to endorse Republican Mike Rogers following personal and…: Haley Stevens broke party ranks to endorse Republican Mike Rogers following personal and policy disputes with Abdul El-Sayed.
  • Tensions peaked over controversial rhetoric regarding Israel and unmet conditions for an…: Tensions peaked over controversial rhetoric regarding Israel and unmet conditions for an apology before a planned unity event.
  • Democratic leaders and former campaign staffers forcefully denounced the move, which prom…: Democratic leaders and former campaign staffers forcefully denounced the move, which prompted the resignation of Stevens' communications director.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

DETROIT — After months of proclaiming support for the Democratic ticket, Rep. Haley Stevens has endorsed GOP Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers over her former primary rival Abdul El-Sayed, less than 48 hours before Election Day.

"As you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away, and he's right," Stevens said in a video she posted to social media on Sunday. "And that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate today."

Her statement followed a surprise appearance with Rogers at a church in Detroit.

Outside a "Souls to the Polls" event at a church in Detroit, El-Sayed told reporters that he doesn't think about Stevens and said voters do not either.

"None of this matters," El-Sayed said. "You know what matters. You can go, like, 15 minutes that way, or 15 minutes that way, or 15 minutes that way. And there are families who are preparing to send their kids to schools tomorrow that look like they did 50 years…

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