Michigan Senate race fractures as Stevens endorses Rogers, sparks outrage
The Michigan Senate race took a dramatic turn Sunday when Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican nominee Mike Rogers, igniting a firestorm of criticism from left-wing allies of Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The unexpected move follows a period of tension between Stevens and El-Sayed, stemming from her concerns about the response to antisemitic elements within his campaign’s supporters and culminating in El-Sayed disinviting her from a campaign event.
Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker launched a scathing attack on Stevens on X, accusing her of being motivated by financial gain and a “weird obsession with Israel.” He asserted that the race should focus on affordability and democracy, contrasting Rogers and Stevens with what he characterized as an “Epstein class.” Mehdi Hasan, editor-in-chief of Zeteo News, similarly condemned Stevens as a “complete traitor” and criticized the Democratic establishment.
Other prominent figures, including former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg and Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, joined the chorus of criticism, with Hogg urging Democrats to denounce Stevens and accusing her of being a “Republican.”
The endorsement occurred after a controversial advertisement released by Rebellion PAC, founded by The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur, linked U.S. military support for Israel to rising grocery prices. Stevens labeled the ad antisemitic and called for El-Sayed’s condemnation. While El-Sayed distanced himself from the ad, Uygur defended it, claiming it was misrepresented by reporters and focused on Israeli policy.
Uygur attributed Stevens’ endorsement to the influence of the “Israeli lobby” and a lack of popular support. Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor, former Obama aides and co-hosts of “Pod Save America,” also voiced criticism, highlighting the apparent contradiction between Stevens’ condemnation of hate and her support for Rogers, who previously labeled El-Sayed a terrorist.
El-Sayed previously stated that his campaign was not responsible for the Rebellion PAC advertisement and that he disagreed with its content. Republican National Committee spokesman Hunter Lovell welcomed Stevens’ endorsement, framing it as evidence of Rogers’ broad appeal and suggesting El-Sayed’s agenda is out of step with Michigan voters.
During a Sunday interview, journalist Sam Robinson questioned Stevens about supporting a candidate with opposing views. Stevens responded, “Nothing is perfect,” before a heckler interrupted, shouting, “Stevens is a traitor.” Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, and former campaign chairman David Kramer had previously announced their support for Rogers. El-Sayed’s campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment.
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“El Sayed's left-wing allies attack 'evil' Stevens after bombshell Rogers endorsement”
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