Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville is facing fierce criticism after comparing Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens to a “used condom” following her endorsement of Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers over progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.
In a vulgar Sunday rant, Carville argued that Stevens had effectively abandoned the Democratic Party just days before Election Day, claiming she had “sold her soul” to Republicans for what he described as “two cheeseburgers.”
“Your political career is over … if you think these Republicans are going to treat you as anything other than what they view you as—and let me break the news to you: a used condom,” Carville said during an episode of the Politicon podcast.
“The Democrats don’t even think you’re worth a used condom, but that’s about where you are,” added the 82-year-old strategist.
Carville concluded by suggesting that Stevens open a cheeseburger restaurant with Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., another Democrat known for occasionally breaking with his party.
Carville’s outburst came after Stevens endorsed Rogers two days before the midterm election. The move followed her very public break with El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee who defeated her by one percentage point.
The comments quickly drew condemnation from Republicans and others on social media after video clips of the remarks began circulating online.
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“Never seen anything like the anti-woman crash out going on rn. Wow,” conservative commentator and strategist Scott Jennings wrote on X.
Actor Michael Rapaport wrote, “Where is GRAHAM PLATNER when we need him? This old bag of bones needs to be put away.”
“Questioning her motives is fair game. But the sexist vitriol she is receiving for endorsing the wrong candidate is disgusting,” another user posted.
Meanwhile, senior Michigan Democrats also denounced Stevens for her late endorsement of Rogers in the closely watched Michigan Senate race.
“Mike Rogers is Donald Trump’s handpicked candidate for Senate, a rubber stamp for Trump’s toxic agenda, and a corrupt politician looking out only for himself,” Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel said in a statement.
“The Michigan Democratic Party stands united and fully behind Abdul El-Sayed, a proven, committed fighter for Michigan’s working families,” Hertel added.
Hertel also accused Stevens of abandoning the principles she claims to support by campaigning alongside Rogers, whom he described as a politician who has repeatedly failed Michigan’s working class, supports a national abortion ban and has pledged to back Trump’s agenda. “We reject the attempts by Stevens and bad-faith actors to divide our party,” he said.
El-Sayed holds a four-point lead over Rogers in polling compiled by RealClearPolitics, although Rogers’ campaign says its internal surveys show the Republican ahead.