U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate on Sunday, Nov. 1, breaking with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed two days before Michigan voters, including those in Ann Arbor, choose their next senator.
Stevens announced her support in a video posted on X.
She also appeared with Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit, MLive reported.
“I’m not turning my back on Democrats. It is this one vote,” Stevens told reporters, according to the Associated Press.
Stevens’ chief of staff, Justin German, and other staff members resigned over the endorsement, NBC News reported. German said in a statement that he and other team members opposed the decision.
Dispute preceded endorsement
The endorsement followed a public disagreement over an outside group’s Israel-related advertisement. Stevens sought El-Sayed’s condemnation of the ad, AP reported.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, who helped organize a planned joint campaign appearance, told AP she asked Stevens not to attend because the dispute had become distracting.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel wrote on X that Stevens was not a current party member and would not be one in the future.
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin criticized the endorsement in a separate post, saying politicians should focus on Michigan residents rather than themselves. She reaffirmed her support for El-Sayed.
What Ann Arbor voters face Tuesday
The winner of the Tuesday, Nov. 3, election will succeed Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who is not seeking another term.
El-Sayed narrowly defeated Stevens in the August primary. He faces Rogers, a former congressman endorsed by President Donald Trump, according to The Michigan Daily’s candidate guide. If elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim U.S. senator.
Ann Arbor polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Residents can check their assigned polling location through the city’s Election Day information page.
