WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Haley Stevens announced an unprecedented endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's U.S. Senate primary election, a reversal that has drawn sharp criticism from within her own party and an uncomfortable grilling from CNN's Anderson Cooper.
The endorsement reversal came just hours after Stevens had assured Democratic colleague Debbie Dingell that a cross-party endorsement was not forthcoming, the Michigan congresswoman said Sunday. Dingell, the elder stateswoman of the Michigan delegation, called the subsequent interview "one of the most painful interviews I have ever watched."
Appearing on "Anderson Cooper 360," Stevens struggled to articulate why she abandoned her support for El-Sayed, repeatedly beginning answers with "Look..." before offering evasive non-answers. She cited concerns about El-Sayed's supposed anger, her appearance alongside conservative commentator Hasan Piker, and an advertisement linking Israel to high prices — though that ad was produced by an outside group unaffiliated with the El-Sayed campaign.
Stevens described herself as an "independent woman" while insisting she loves the Democratic Party. The exchange highlighted the tension between her personal political calculations and party loyalty at a critical moment for a high-stakes midterm race.
Multiple staff members have departed Stevens' office, and the congresswoman acknowledged she is a "lame duck" who will not seek re-election to the House, serving only a few more months. By aligning with Rogers and earning the public praise of former President Donald Trump, Stevens has guaranteed both her temporary national relevance and the fact that said relevance will be vanishingly brief following her departure from Congress.
The Michigan primary election has drawn national attention as both parties seek to defend and expand their Senate seats in what is expected to be a competitive general election race.
