More than half of U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens’ staff quit within hours of her endorsement of Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, The Straits Times reported, as Michigan’s election neared.
Stevens announced the endorsement Sunday, Nov. 1, two days before voters choose a senator. EconoTimes previously covered Stevens’ endorsement of Rogers. She posted her decision in a video on X and appeared with Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit.
The endorsement reversed a pledge Stevens made after losing the Aug. 4 Democratic primary to Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Michigan Secretary of State results show El-Sayed won with 744,952 votes, or 48.45%, while Stevens received 731,160, or 47.55%. In an Aug. 5 statement, Stevens congratulated El-Sayed and said she was “proud to offer my support” as he faced Rogers in the general election.
Stevens said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign and should stay away. The claim that he directly told her this was not independently confirmed. Stevens tied the reported exclusion to her decision to endorse Rogers.
NPR reported that Stevens objected to an ad promoted by Cenk Uygur and that El-Sayed’s campaign said it had no involvement in the ad and criticized its contents. NPR also described weeks of disagreement over Israel and campaign rhetoric.
Stevens had been scheduled to appear at Northend Church of God in Christ in Detroit with El-Sayed and Rep. James Clyburn, but the event went ahead without her, NPR reported. She appeared with Rogers at Perfecting Church instead.
Rogers is challenging El-Sayed for the seat held by retiring Sen. Gary Peters. Channel NewsAsia described the contest as a battleground that could help determine control of the Senate. Michigan voters are scheduled to cast ballots Tuesday, Nov. 3.
