Shock as Democrat Stevens backs GOP’s Mike Rogers for Senate

Republican Mike Rogers received a last-minute endorsement on Sunday from Haley Stevens, the former primary opponent of Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. The unexpected endorsement comes as the Great Lakes State has faced a tug-of-war battle over its U.S. Senate seat ahead of Tuesday’s elections. El-Sayed said Stevens was no longer welcome in his campaign, she explained in a video post. That was why she was endorsing Rogers. Stevens later described the endorsement as a weight off her shoulders in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper.

The news followed after Stevens attended a Sunday morning church service with Rogers. While Stevens and El-Sayed were originally scheduled to attend church together, El-Sayed asked her on Friday to not attend any of more of his campaign events. The two have dealt with tension since their primary ended, as Stevens has voiced strong support for Israel and El-Sayed has frequently criticized the Israeli government. In the lead-up the El-Sayed and Stevens’ formal break, her fiance, Jewish civil rights attorney Jason Turkish, publicly criticized El-Sayed’s rhetoric around Israel policy.

What has been the response to the endorsement?

• El-Sayed dismissed Stevens’ endorsement, telling a scrum of reporters that it doesn’t matter at the end of the day.

• Some Democrats accused Stevens of betraying the party, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell.

• State party chair Curtis Hertel said Stevens was kicked out of Michigan’s Democratic Party.

• President Donald Trump praised Stevens for being brave, adding that he would like to see her switch parties.

Before Stevens and El-Sayed’s feud erupted over the weekend, a New York Times poll claimed that El-Sayed led Rogers by 11 percentage points.

Dig deeper: Read Joanna Insco’s report for Roundups on how Rogers and El-Sayed have fought for votes in the last days of their campaigns.