Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers Over Abdul El-Sayed

Michigan's Senate race took a turn on Sunday that few saw coming. Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens, who narrowly lost her party's August primary, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, just two days before voters go to the polls.

Stevens announced the decision in a video and joined Rogers at a Sunday service at Perfecting Church in Detroit, according to Bridge Michigan and other outlets. In the video, she criticized El-Sayed's rhetoric and left no doubt about where she stands. "Today, I do not belong to Abdul's campaign," she said.

The break follows a public feud that erupted over the weekend. Stevens had pressed El-Sayed to condemn an outside group's ad blaming American aid to Israel for economic hardship at home. His campaign responded by asking her to stay away from remaining events, and he accused her of relitigating the primary.

Stevens had promised during the primary to back the Democratic nominee, and she did so after her loss, which makes Sunday's reversal all the more striking. Rogers said he was honored to have her support. President Trump gave her a public shout-out.

Democrats reacted with fury. El-Sayed's team said it was "shocked and heartbroken." CNN reported, citing two sources, that her chief of staff and communications director have quit. El-Sayed, meanwhile, bristled at reporters who asked about it.

The race for the seat of retiring Sen. Gary Peters is tight and could help decide control of the Senate. A sitting Democratic congresswoman crossing party lines this late is rare. For Republicans, it is a powerful closing argument, and pro-Israel Democrats in Michigan now have a prominent example to follow. Michigan voters will decide on Tuesday whether it matters.