Stevens backs GOP Senate pick

Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan's Senate seat on Sunday, a move that triggered her immediate expulsion from the state Democratic Party. She framed the choice as a personal conviction made just before the midterm elections begin on Tuesday.

The decision reversed her primary loss in August, when she had supported Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens indicated that her view of El-Sayed deteriorated in late October after her campaign received signals that she was unwelcome at his events. She questioned how a candidate who cannot accommodate his primary opponent can represent a diverse state.

Stevens addressed speculation that her fiancé, Jewish megadonor Jason Turkish, influenced the switch. Turkish had previously stated he would vote for Rogers despite his usual Democratic leanings. Stevens called the suggestion "sexism dressed up as political analysis" and asserted her independence in the final call.

She described Rogers as a potential senator who would follow the tradition of John McCain. In her view, he would prioritize national interests over partisan loyalty and challenge his own party when necessary. This characterization served as the core of her public justification for crossing party lines.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel confirmed the ouster shortly after Stevens' announcement. He stated that Stevens "is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future." The party moved quickly to distance itself from the representative before the general election.

In a Sunday interview with CNN, Stevens explained that El-Sayed's campaigning had become increasingly angry, though she did not cite specific incidents. She referenced an independent ad linking grocery prices to US aid in Israel, an ad El-Sayed's campaign later distanced itself from. Stevens said the reaction from party leaders, who rushed to condemn her, solidified her belief that loyalty should not require abandoning personal judgment.