Politics

Haley Stevens Endorses Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race

Last updated: November 2, 2026

Quick answer

On Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, Rep. Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat who lost the Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed Republican nominee Mike Rogers, two days before Election Day. Stevens said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign. El-Sayed and Rogers face each other on Nov. 3 for the seat Sen. Gary Peters is leaving.

Key facts

Who: Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), who has represented Michigan's 11th district since 2019.
What: she endorsed Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who narrowly beat her in the primary.
Where: Stevens appeared with Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit on Sunday, then posted a video announcing the endorsement.
Her explanation: she said El-Sayed had said she was no longer welcome in his campaign and should stay away. She was reportedly scheduled to attend a unity event with him that day.
Background: NPR and Axios report that the dispute escalated after her fiance, Jason Turkish, said he planned to vote for Rogers.
According to Axios, she told Rogers she remains a Democrat and believes her party will still win a Senate majority.
Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Republicans currently hold a slim Senate majority, and the Michigan race could help decide which party controls the chamber, according to CNBC.
Polls: new CBS Detroit and CNN surveys showed El-Sayed ahead by 7 points, and one poll sponsored by a group affiliated with Rogers showed Rogers ahead by 2. All were taken before the endorsement, according to Yahoo News.

What happened

NBC News reported that Stevens' endorsement was a major shake-up in the final days of a top battleground race. Stevens said in a video that El-Sayed had said she was no longer welcome in his campaign and that she should stay away. "He's right," she said, and she announced her support for Rogers. At a press conference beside Rogers, she said she was sorry people were upset.

CNN reported that she told Anderson Cooper on Sunday evening that her decision was firm and that she had not yet voted. CNN also reported that she did not lay out a reason for changing her mind. Axios reported that she praised Rogers' support for Black-owned businesses at the church.

How each side is responding

Rogers' campaign confirmed the endorsement through spokesperson Abby Ronson. Axios called the appearance a photo opportunity for Rogers as Republicans try to win over Black and Jewish voters in a close race.
Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel criticized the move. He said Rogers has sold out Michigan's working class, wants a national abortion ban and would be a loyal vote for President Trump's agenda, and that Stevens had abandoned what she claims to care about.
President Trump praised the endorsement on social media, calling Stevens a highly respected Democrat, according to CNBC.
Stevens told Politico that El-Sayed had run a magnificent campaign, but that he had made clear she was not welcome.

The race at a glance

Person	Role
Abdul El-Sayed	Democratic nominee. He entered the race on April 2, 2025 and narrowly beat Stevens in the primary.
Mike Rogers	Republican nominee and former congressman. He lost the 2024 Senate race to Elissa Slotkin by about 19,000 votes, according to AP.
Haley Stevens	Democratic congresswoman for Michigan's 11th district. She lost the primary and endorsed Rogers on Nov. 1.
Mallory McMorrow	Former Democratic Senate candidate. According to Wikipedia, she withdrew in July 2026 after her polling declined.

Sources: NBC News, AP via Yahoo News and Wikipedia.

Will it change the outcome?

NBC News said it is unclear how much the endorsement could affect the result. The polls we found were taken before it. Republicans have not won a Senate race in Michigan since 1994, according to Wikipedia, and Donald Trump won the state in 2024. We are not predicting the outcome.

What we could not confirm

Whether the endorsement will change any votes. The polls we found were all taken before it.
El-Sayed's own public response. The sources we checked quote Stevens and his party's chair, but we did not confirm a statement from El-Sayed.
Why Stevens changed her mind. She has pointed to El-Sayed's message that she was unwelcome, and CNN reported she did not give a further reason.
Election results. Voting happens on Nov. 3, and we will not guess at the winner.

Frequently asked questions

What did Haley Stevens do?

On Nov. 1, 2026, she endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, two days before Election Day.

Why did Haley Stevens endorse Mike Rogers?

She said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign. NPR and Axios report that the dispute escalated after her fiance said he planned to vote for Rogers.

Is Haley Stevens still a Democrat?

According to Axios, she told Rogers she remains a Democrat and believes her party will win a Senate majority.

Who is Haley Stevens engaged to?

NPR and Axios identify her fiance as Jason Turkish.

When is the Michigan Senate election?

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

Who is ahead in the Michigan Senate polls?

Yahoo News reports that recent CBS Detroit and CNN polls gave El-Sayed a 7-point lead, while one poll sponsored by a group tied to Rogers had Rogers up by 2. All were taken before the endorsement.