Haley Stevens Defends Last-Minute Rogers Endorsement in Tense CNN Interview
Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens backed Republican Mike Rogers over her party's Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, then faced sharp questions from CNN's Anderson Cooper about why she changed course.
Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race on Sunday, then spent a tense CNN interview defending the reversal — including a claim by fellow Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell that Stevens had said the night before she would not do it. Stevens did not give a clear account of what changed, saying only that she woke up “clear-eyed” and followed what was in her heart.
What happened
Stevens, a congresswoman from Michigan, announced Sunday she was backing Rogers, the Republican, over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who beat her in the party’s Senate primary. According to Fox News, the move followed El-Sayed telling Stevens she was “no longer welcome” in his campaign.
On CNN, host Anderson Cooper pressed her on Dingell’s account that Stevens had told her at midnight she would not endorse Rogers. Stevens disputed the timing — “It might not have been midnight when I spoke with her” — but did not deny the conversation, saying she had spent time alone with her thoughts and writing things out.
She pointed to a Rebellion PAC ad supporting El-Sayed that she called antisemitic. The ad, from a PAC founded by The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur, showed grocery shoppers blaming Israel for rising prices. El-Sayed’s campaign said it was not affiliated with the ad, and El-Sayed said he disagreed with its contents.
Cooper also raised an August post in which Stevens wrote that Rogers “will be another rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s dangerous agenda.” Asked why she now supports him, she cited what she described as El-Sayed’s “anger” and “lack of kindness.” At one point she told Cooper it sounded like he was angry with her.
Why it matters
The episode exposes a visible split in Michigan’s Democratic coalition just as voting is under way. Adrian Hemond of the Michigan consulting firm Grassroots Midwest told Fox News Digital the endorsement would have mattered far more a month ago, noting that more than 2 million people have already voted. That suggests the practical effect on the race may be limited, though the public rupture is likely to keep drawing attention.
Reaction was swift. Dingell, speaking to Cooper right after Stevens, called it one of the “most painful” interviews she had watched and said she had been worried about Stevens all week. Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan called Stevens a “train wreck,” and Democrats criticized her as a traitor and opportunist, according to Fox News.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who | Rep. Haley Stevens, Democrat of Michigan |
| Endorsed | Republican Mike Rogers, in the Michigan Senate race |
| Rival | Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated Stevens in the primary |
| Announced | Sunday |
| Interview | CNN, with host Anderson Cooper |
| Flashpoint | Rebellion PAC ad Stevens called antisemitic |
| Votes already cast | More than 2 million, per Grassroots Midwest’s Adrian Hemond |
What this means for you
- If you are a Michigan voter who has not yet cast a ballot, the Democratic side of this race is now openly divided. The source does not say how the candidates’ positions differ on issues, so check their campaigns directly before deciding.
- Endorsements from defeated primary rivals are usually symbolic. With more than 2 million votes already in, per Hemond, late shifts in endorsements may carry less weight than they would earlier.
- Treat viral clips of the interview with care. The source quotes selected exchanges, not the full transcript.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Haley Stevens?
She is a Democratic member of Congress from Michigan who ran for the Senate nomination and lost to Abdul El-Sayed in the primary.
Why did she endorse Mike Rogers?
She cited El-Sayed’s “anger” and “lack of kindness,” and a Rebellion PAC ad she called antisemitic. She did not give a detailed explanation of her change of heart.
What did Debbie Dingell say?
Dingell said Stevens told her at midnight she would not endorse Rogers, and called the interview one of the most painful she had watched. Stevens disputed the timing but not the substance.
Did El-Sayed’s campaign run the ad?
No. His campaign said it was not affiliated with the Rebellion PAC ad, and El-Sayed said he disagreed with its contents.
What to watch next
Whether Stevens’ endorsement shifts any votes is unknown, and the source gives no polling. Also unclear: whether El-Sayed or Dingell respond further, and whether Stevens’ office comments — Fox News said it did not immediately return a request, as did the Rogers campaign.
- Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's Senate race.
- Debbie Dingell said Stevens told her the night before she would not endorse Rogers; Stevens disputed the timing.
- More than 2 million votes have already been cast, according to a Michigan consultant cited by Fox News.
