Michigan Democrats in Turmoil Over Infighting Two Days Before U.S. Midterms; Trump: "A Tremendous Thing"

Stevens, Defeated in Democratic Primary, Endorses Republican

Israel Policy Dispute Erupts

Two days before the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3 (local time), an unusual development unfolded in Michigan, one of the most hotly contested states: a Democratic incumbent member of the U.S. House of Representatives endorsed the Republican Senate candidate. As tensions over Israel policy within the Democratic Party boiled over, the endorsement emerged as a major wild card in the final days of the campaign. Democratic leaders denounced it as an act of betrayal, while U.S. President Donald Trump immediately welcomed it.

U.S. President Donald Trump's Truth Social. Truth Social

According to The New York Times (NYT) on Nov. 1, Haley Stevens, a Democratic U.S. representative from Michigan, attended a worship service that day at Perfecting Church, a Black church, alongside Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers. In a video she posted on social media afterward, she said, "Today, I am endorsing Mike Rogers in the U.S. Senate race."

"Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate, said I was no longer welcome in his campaign, and he was right," she said. "I am not part of Abdul's campaign."

Stevens narrowly lost to progressive candidate El-Sayed in the Democratic Senate primary last August. She later endorsed El-Sayed, but the two have clashed over Israel policy and other issues.

Stevens took issue with a political ad by an outside group linking U.S. aid to Israel to rising grocery prices and called on El-Sayed to condemn it. Their differences with El-Sayed, who is critical of Israel policy, came to the fore in the final days of the campaign, ultimately driving Stevens to break with him.

The two had initially planned to attend a joint event at a church in Detroit and emphasize party unity. But as their dispute intensified, the joint appearance was called off. Stevens instead attended a worship service with the Republican candidate and then announced her endorsement.

Democratic leaders immediately pushed back. Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Ken Martin denounced Stevens' endorsement of the Republican candidate as "a betrayal of Democratic values."

"At a time when Democrats should be fighting for Michigan families and uniting against President Trump's agenda, we reject attempts to sow division within our party," he said. "We will not let political stunts in the final days of the campaign derail our momentum."

Trump, by contrast, immediately welcomed Stevens' endorsement. On Truth Social, he called it "a tremendous thing," adding that she had shown "tremendous courage and loyalty" to the people of Michigan.

Michigan is one of the closely contested states where this year's midterm elections could determine control of the Senate. In the race to fill the seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Gary Peters, El-Sayed is facing Rogers, who has Trump's endorsement.

Republicans currently hold 53 of the Senate's 100 seats. For Democrats to regain the majority, they must hold their existing seats and win at least four seats currently held by Republicans.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.