Democrat Haley Stevens Backs Republican Mike Rogers Days Before Michigan Vote
Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers at a Detroit church, the Washington Post reports. AP, CBS and Axios call it an appearance. Michigan votes Tuesday.
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Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Detroit on Sunday, the Washington Post reported. Michigan votes on Tuesday. Stevens lost the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed in August and then endorsed him.
AP, CBS News and Axios described the moment as an appearance or a show of support instead. Clash Report found no formal statement from Stevens endorsing Rogers.
The Church Appearance
Stevens joined Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit on Sunday morning. Axios says the appearance was arranged at the last minute after the two spoke that morning.
Before entering, she said she supports investing in Black-owned businesses, “and that’s the policy Mike’s going to take on.” Bridge Michigan cited video from Michigan Chronicle reporter Sam Robinson.
How the Rift Opened
El-Sayed won the August primary with 48.45% to Stevens’ 47.55%. Mallory McMorrow took 4%. Stevens endorsed El-Sayed afterward.
Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, said last week he would vote for Rogers over El-Sayed’s stance on Israel. Stevens told CNN, “We’re a household divided.” She also said she was “voting for the Democratic ticket.”
Stevens then demanded that El-Sayed condemn an outside PAC ad linking Israel aid to grocery prices. She also asked him to pull his ad featuring Tucker Carlson. El-Sayed said she was “relitigating a primary that ended three months ago.”
His campaign asked her to skip its remaining events. Rep. Debbie Dingell said she asked Stevens not to attend a planned Sunday event with Rep. Jim Clyburn. “Mike Rogers loved every minute of it,” Dingell said.
Reaction and the Race
Rogers called Stevens “a courageous leader who deserves the respect of every Michigan voter” on Friday. Reports reviewed by Clash Report carried no El-Sayed response to the church appearance itself.
El-Sayed led recent polls. CBS/Mitchell had him ahead 51% to 44% on Oct. 26-27, and Detroit News/Glengariff had 51% to 45%. Marist showed a closer 50% to 48%. CNN’s Harry Enten projects Democrats winning 52 Senate seats.
Choose Clash Report as a preferred source and see our reporting first in Top Stories.