Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens endorses Republican Mike Rogers in Senate race
The move follows a public split with nominee Abdul El-Sayed and a similar endorsement by Stevens' fiancé.
By Rafael Collins ·
Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat who lost the state's Senate primary, endorsed Republican nominee Mike Rogers on Sunday morning. The decision marks the latest sharp break in a contested race that has drawn national attention for its internal divisions. Stevens announced the support via a tweet while she was scheduled to attend a church service with Rogers.
The endorsement comes days after Stevens' fiancé, Jason Turkish, publicly backed Rogers. Turkish is a Jewish Democrat, a detail that intensified scrutiny on the Democratic operation. Stevens initially told voters she still supported Abdul El-Sayed and planned to join him for a unity event. That plan fell apart over the weekend.
On Friday, Stevens urged El-Sayed to more forcefully criticize an outside advertising group that aired a spot criticizing U.S. aid to Israel. El-Sayed said he disagreed with the ad's content. His campaign then told Stevens to stay away from its events, according to a person familiar with the matter. By Sunday, Stevens had switched sides.
The Michigan drama is one of several late-stage conflicts in the 2026 midterm cycle. In Ohio, Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy ran an advertisement featuring Democrat Amy Acton's mother criticizing her. Acton said she has not spoken to her mother since age 12, a period dating to when her stepfather was indicted for allegedly sexually abusing her. Ramaswamy's campaign has since discontinued the ad after spending a fraction of its initial budget.
In Alaska, a New York Times report detailed how Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign helped recruit another Dan Sullivan for the ballot. The goal was to confuse voters intending to support incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola maintained she knew nothing about the other candidate and was not trying to trick voters. She called the story a distraction from affordability issues.
Other states have seen their own feuds. In South Carolina, Republican Rep. Ralph Norman continues to criticize appointed Sen. Darline Graham, saying voters deserve better. In New Hampshire, former Gov. Chris Sununu joked that Republicans would be up by 30 points if voters confused him with his brother, former Sen. John E. Sununu. John E. Sununu responded that his brother was totally wrong.
Republican leaders have also focused on culture war moments. They amplified a former President Barack Obama quip comparing the White House to a Cheesecake Factory. Trump has continued to comment on candidates' physiques, specifically praising the appearance of Ohio Sen. Jon Husted. Vice President JD Vance referenced Husted's body during a Fox News town hall on Thursday night before answering a question about affordability.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made claims about the achievements of Arabs, a move that added to the pressure on El-Sayed. The 2026 election results will determine the balance of power in Congress, but the final days have been defined as much by these partisan disputes as by the major policy issues facing voters.
