WASHINGTON, D.C. — Midterm Election Day is Tuesday, and anticipation is very high.
Democrats are already expected to take control of the House, but in recent weeks, it appears that the Senate could also be in play.
In Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee and progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed holds a narrow lead over Republican Mike Rogers, according to recent polling. But a spooky surprise over the weekend has shocked Democrats and even Republicans.
In a stunning political turn, Democratic Congresswoman — and former Michigan Senate candidate — Haley Stevens, D-Mich., is throwing her support behind Republican nominee Mike Rogers. Stevens lost to El-Sayed in the state’s Democratic Primary Election in August.
Rogers said he was “very surprised” when he heard the news.
“Sunday morning, we’re on our way to church services. And she called and said, ‘I’ve thought a lot about this. This is hard for me to do. I’m still a Democrat. I’m going to vote Democrat up and down the ticket, but I’m going to withdraw my endorsement of Abdul and declare my endorsement for you,’” Mike Rogers told Washington correspondent Brendan Scanland on Monday.
“This is about his [El-Sayed’s] behavior, his anger, his divisiveness. He threw her, basically said, I don’t want to see you around my campaign, because she came out and condemned the most racist ad I think I’ve ever seen in politics. And he couldn’t do it. He wouldn’t do it. Didn’t even like that she asked him to do it. And that’s what got them crosswise,” Rogers added.
On Sunday, Stevens didn’t just endorse Rogers; she appeared alongside him.
“I don’t know everything that’s going to happen. All I can do is lead with love and integrity. This was a personal and private decision. I woke up this morning and I decided to go to church, and I’m here with the person who I am voting for United States Senate, and that is Mike Rogers,” said Stevens.
“The Michigan Democratic Party stands united and fully behind Abdul El-Sayed,” said Curtis Hertel, the Michigan Democratic Party chair. “Haley Stevens’ decision to campaign with Rogers — shows that she has abandoned everything she claims to care about. We reject the attempts by Stevens and bad-faith actors to divide our party and undermine our momentum, and will not allow these eleventh-hour distractions deter us.”
The move follows Stevens’ pretty contentious primary loss to Democrat Abdul El-Sayed this summer. The two were expected to appear together at a Detroit unity event, but instead traded barbs Friday over the controversial ad criticizing U.S. aid to Israel.
