Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens has thrown her support behind Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers after joining him for a church service.
Stevens revealed the unexpected endorsement Sunday morning, three months after suffering a bitter primary defeat to Abdul El-Sayed, who went on to become Michigan’s Democratic nominee.
She arrived at Detroit’s Perfecting Church beaming as she stood beside Rogers during the service, creating a striking image in the middle of a closely watched midterm campaign.
The extraordinary appearance came as Michigan Democrats face internal divisions. Stevens had reportedly been expected to attend church with El-Sayed, but those plans collapsed as tensions between the two Democrats grew.
Dressed in a teal suit, Stevens entered the church, embraced Rogers and warmly greeted members of the congregation.
After removing her sunglasses at the church entrance, she told local residents that Rogers would continue her efforts to invest in Black-owned businesses.
Cameras captured the unlikely political pairing as Stevens and the Republican candidate sat side by side, smiling and applauding during the service.
Only minutes after the service concluded, Stevens held a news conference to formally announce her endorsement of Rogers.
Cameras recorded the striking scene as the two politicians sat together, smiling and clapping during the church service
The unusual church appearance unfolded as Michigan’s midterm contest was overshadowed by divisions within the Democratic Party
Stevens said her own household had been “divided, until last night,” when she decided to vote for Republican Rogers. She also said El-Sayed had made clear that he did not want her support during his campaign.
While reaffirming her commitment to the Democratic Party, Stevens said: “My vote will be with Mike Rogers. Because we have to stand with country.”
“We cannot stand for hate.”
“Abdul was very clear when he said, ‘Don’t come.’ Everyone can look at the facts. This is about leadership and integrity.”
Rogers said he was honored to have Stevens’s backing and vote, adding: “I’m candidly happy I’m not running against her.”
Stevens also told voters that she still planned to cast roughly 90 percent of her midterm ballots for Democratic candidates.
The announcement was met with a protest during the news conference, when someone shouted: “Haley Stevens is a traitor!”
The dispute among Michigan Democrats intensified after Stevens’s fiancé, Jason Turkish, said Wednesday that he planned to vote for Rogers, El-Sayed’s Republican opponent.
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks at a campaign rally on Saturday
Hours later, Stevens appeared on CNN and reiterated that she would vote for El-Sayed, while urging his campaign to “shut out the hate and call it out.”
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On Thursday, the two seemed to make amends and scheduled a Sunday campaign event at a church in Detroit with South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, an influential Democrat seen as a major force in Joe Biden’s 2020 primary win.
Stevens then released a social media statement on Friday criticizing El-Sayed and demanding he condemn an ad linking US support for Israel to rising grocery prices.
El-Sayed’s campaign has since asked Stevens to stay away from the event, MS NOW reported Saturday.
El-Sayed sidestepped questions from reporters about whether he wanted Stevens to appear with him, saying that she ‘wants to talk about other things.’
When directly asked if Stevens was ‘trying to rat f***’ his campaign, he laughed and said: ‘That is not a question for me.’
Rogers said he would welcome Stevens ‘to join us at an event or any of our campaign events,’ according to MS NOW.
Clyburn adviser Antjuan Seawright said the invitation for Stevens to attend church ‘still stands,’ the outlet reported.
Just minutes after the church service ended, Stevens held a press conference to announce her formal endorsement of the Republican
Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, said Wednesday that he would be casting a vote for Republican candidate Mike Rogers
On Thursday, El-Sayed said when asked by reporters about the church event with Stevens that ‘we’re always trying to unify the party.’
He said that an event had not happened sooner because of their busy schedules.
The progressive candidate added then that ‘nobody cares’ about party dynamics given the high cost of living.
The one-minute spot at the center of the spat was run by the leftist commentator Cenk Uygur’s Rebellion PAC. Uygur is controversial streamer Hasan Piker’s uncle.
El-Sayed, a vocal critic of Israel, previously campaigned with Piker, drawing concern from some in Michigan’s Jewish community.
The ad features moments during conversations in a grocery store, including one where a woman tells a man she can’t afford eggs because they had to use their money ‘killing Palestinians.’
El-Sayed’s campaign has noted that the ad was not made or endorsed by the campaign and said it ‘has always been focused on addressing the most critical challenges Michiganders are facing.’
El-Sayed himself told reporters on Saturday that he did ‘not agree with the contents of that ad.’
In response, Stevens said she was glad to see El-Sayed say he did not agree ‘with the content of the vile… ad which claimed Israel and Jews were to blame for the high costs of groceries.’
She did not refer to El-Sayed by name and only called him ‘our senate nominee,’ according to the statement reported by Semafor’s Nicholas Wu.