RNC says ‘Michigan should take notice’ of Stevens endorsing Rogers

The Republican National Committee (RNC) on Sunday said Michigan “should take notice” of Rep. Haley Stevens’s (D-Mich.) endorsement of her former opponent in the Michigan Senate race Republican Mike Rogers.

“When Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who ran against Abdul El-Sayed and knows him better than anyone, stands with Mike Rogers, Michigan should take notice,” RNC spokesperson Hunter Lovell said in a statement.

“Democrats who feel Abdul has abandoned them have a home with Mike, who is building a winning coalition of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans to save Michigan from El-Sayed’s radical, terrorist-sympathizing agenda,” Lovell added. “The center of Michigan politics has moved, and Abdul is on the wrong side of it.”

Stevens endorsed Rogers over Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D), who Stevens lost to after a bitter primary battle. She had endorsed El-Sayed earlier this year after that loss but did not campaign with the nominee.

She was set to appear alongside El-Sayed on Sunday, but the Democratic nominee dropped Stevens from the campaign event, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Democrats looking to hold on to the seat that’s to be vacated by outgoing Sen. Gary Peters (D) –– and seeking to make a net gain of four seats to take a majority in the Senate –– fumed over her endorsement.

“Haley Stevens’ decision to campaign with Rogers — a man who has repeatedly sold out Michigan’s working class, wants to pass a national abortion ban, and has pledged to be a loyal vote for Trump’s agenda — shows that she has abandoned everything she claims to care about,” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said in a statement.

El-Sayed dismissed Stevens’s move during a campaign event flanked by Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), on Sunday in Detroit.

“This is a state of 10 million people who deserve a lot better from the government,” he said. “I’m a lot more focused on the 9,999,998 that are not the ones you guys are talking about.”

Steven and El-Sayed have been at odds with each other over U.S. support for Israel. This divide represents the larger divide among Democrats over the issue, with many not approving of Israel’s actions during its war in Gaza, and many others accusing Israel of committing genocide in the territory.

Stevens told reporters that her decision to endorse the Michigan Republican was in response to “hate” and El-Sayed’s campaigning with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker.

Staffers working with Stevens reportedly resigned over her endorsement, with former longtime chief of staff Justin German saying he and “many members” have resigned “shocked and heartbroken by Congresswoman Stevens’s decision to support Mike Rogers.”