U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers for Michigan’s open Senate seat Sunday, two days before voters choose a senator in a race carrying implications for control of the chamber.
Stevens announced the endorsement in a video posted on X, saying, “I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today.” The cross-party move adds to tensions around Democratic unity that had emerged during the campaign. EconoTimes previously covered Stevens’ decision to endorse Rogers.
Michigan Secretary of State results show El-Sayed won 744,952 votes, or 48.45%, in the Aug. 4 primary, compared with 731,160 votes, or 47.55%, for Stevens. His margin was 13,792 votes.
Stevens said in her video that El-Sayed had asked her to step away from his campaign. The Associated Press reported a different explanation from Rep. Debbie Dingell, who said she had requested Stevens’ absence from a scheduled joint event because she viewed it as distracting.
Asked about the endorsement, El-Sayed told reporters, “At the end of the day I actually don’t think about Haley Stevens,” according to the AP. The AP also described tension over an outside group’s advertisement that paired U.S. support for Israel with grocery prices. Stevens called on El-Sayed to criticize the ad. He said his campaign did not produce it and that he disagreed with its message.
The AP also reported that Stevens’ longtime chief of staff resigned after the endorsement. Citing a person familiar with the matter, it said other staff members might leave as well.
Sen. Gary Peters announced he would not seek another term, leaving the seat open. France 24 and the Associated Press have described the contest as significant for Senate control and among the races that could determine which party controls the chamber. Voters will choose Peters’ successor Tuesday, Nov. 3.
