Haley Stevens Endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race as El-Sayed Still Leads 49%-42%
Updated
Updated · CNN · Nov 1
Haley Stevens Endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race as El-Sayed Still Leads 49%-42%
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Nov 1
Summary
Haley Stevens formally backed Republican Mike Rogers days before Election Day, saying Abdul El-Sayed had made clear she was not welcome in his campaign after their bitter primary fallout.
Two top Stevens aides quit after the endorsement, and Michigan Democrats, Chuck Schumer and other party figures swiftly condemned the move while reaffirming support for El-Sayed.
Stevens defended the decision as not anti-Muslim even as Republicans have intensified attacks on El-Sayed’s faith; Rogers has accused him of Muslim Brotherhood ties while distancing himself from Trump’s rhetoric.
CNN’s latest poll still showed El-Sayed ahead 49% to 42%, with 95% of likely Democratic voters backing him despite questions over whether any Stevens supporters will defect.
The rupture lands in a race central to Democrats’ push for the net 4 Senate seats needed for control, with Michigan holding the open seat of retiring Sen. Gary Peters.
Why do voters remain deeply dissatisfied with their personal finances despite recent data showing strong third-quarter economic growth?
How does the unprecedented deployment of federal monitors alter the balance between local election control and federal oversight?
Can courts successfully investigate alleged ballot confusion without violating the fundamental legal requirement for ballot secrecy?
Michigan’s 2026 Senate Meltdown: How the El-Sayed–Stevens Rift Exposed Democratic Divisions, Shaped Voter Coalitions, and Redefined Party Strategy
Overview
Just days before Michigan’s 2026 general election, a digital ad from Rebellion PAC linked high grocery prices to U.S. aid to Israel, sparking outrage among pro-Israel Democrats and Jewish groups. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee, refused to formally condemn the ad, which led to public criticism from his rival Haley Stevens and major donor Jason Turkish, who then backed the Republican candidate. The escalating dispute caused El-Sayed’s campaign to uninvite Stevens from a key unity event, resulting in a public party split. Democratic leaders scrambled to repair the damage, while Republicans seized the opportunity to attract disaffected voters.