Stevens defends cross-party pick after El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat

Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan issued a detailed explanation on Wednesday to justify her continued backing of Republican Mike Rogers, even after Democrat Abdul El-Sayed secured the state’s Senate seat. Stevens affirmed that her support for the defeated candidate remains unchanged, marking a rare instance of a sitting member sticking with a cross-party choice after a general election loss.

El-Sayed claimed victory with 52.52 percent of the vote, outpacing Rogers’ 45.48 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ data available at 1:15 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The result ended a contentious midterm race that had drawn national attention to internal Democratic dynamics in Michigan.

In a long post on X, Stevens stated that her political convictions were not determined by electoral outcomes. She acknowledged that her decision carried consequences and expressed regret for the personal friction it caused. She wrote that while she did not regret the choice, she was sorry it upset colleagues and friends. She described her original endorsement of El-Sayed as highly unusual, noting that it had been difficult because she co-chairs the House caucus on antisemitism and viewed El-Sayed’s association with the streamer Hasan Piker as a tough fit.

Stevens argued that she chose to support what she believed mattered more, prioritizing truth over political convenience. She described El-Sayed as a U.S. ally that is imperfect and requires political reforms, while also noting that he had become harder to work with after the endorsement. She stated that rescinding her support for Rogers was not the outlier act; rather, her initial endorsement of El-Sayed was the deviation from her usual stance.

The congresswoman said she was elected to complete her job and believes the Democratic Party should accommodate multiple viewpoints. She pledged to continue fighting antisemitism in both parties for as long as she serves in public life. Stevens concluded by congratulating the winners and encouraging ongoing dialogue about building tolerance despite disagreement.

This latest statement follows a period of intense scrutiny for Stevens. She endorsed Rogers just two days before the midterms, a move that surprised Democratic colleagues and led to staff resignations. She defended her choice in a Sunday night interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, a segment that fellow Representative Debbie Dingell called one of the most painful interviews she has ever watched. On Tuesday, Stevens told NewsNation that her decision was absolutely worth it.

Stevens is scheduled to resume her legislative duties in the coming weeks, continuing her tenure in the House after the midterm elections.