Haley tries to explain her backing of Mike Rogers and suggests he can be another centrist Republican

Haley tries to explain her backing of Mike Rogers and suggests he can be another centrist Republican Several of Stevens’ staff members reportedly resigned immediately following her announcement - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in House Representative Haley Stevens defended her decision to cross party lines and back Republican candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan’s crucial U.S. Senate race. Hours after making a surprise Sunday public appearance with Rogers, the centrist Democrat addressed the fallout from her endorsement on CNN. “I woke up this morning clear-eyed, fresh and focused on what was in my heart, and that's that,” Stevens said in an interview with Anderson Cooper. When questioned about her specific reasoning for breaking ranks just two days before Tuesday’s midterm elections, Stevens offered a simple rationale for her last-minute reversal. “I changed my mind,” she said. “(El-Sayed) said, ‘Hey, I don’t need your endorsement.’ That's fine. Why the anger? Why the frustration?” Stevens insisted that “nothing with me changed,” telling CNN she was now “rock solid” in her choice to support Rogers. “I still love my party a whole lot,” Stevens said. The move marks a dramatic shift in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests. Michigan’s open seat is currently held by Democrats, and analysts consider a victory here essential for the party’s effort to gain control of the U.S. Senate and counter President Donald Trump in his final two years. Stevens, who lost a closely fought Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed in August, initially conceded and endorsed him. As recently as Saturday night, she was sticking with her fellow Democrat and denying rumors of a party switch, according to CNN. However, on Sunday morning, Stevens posted a video to X explaining her decision to endorse Rogers after appearing at an event with the Republican. “I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign,” Stevens said in the video. “Who we are as Michiganders is not hate. ... That’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers.” Stevens noted that although she was initially scheduled to attend an event with El-Sayed on Sunday, he had asked her not to come earlier in the weekend. “This is a very close election, we all know that, but Abdul made clear that I was not welcome in his campaign, that he didn't need me there, that he didn’t want me there,” Stevens said on Sunday. Democratic leaders quickly condemned the move. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the U.S. Senate, called the move a “despicable betrayal,” and multiple staffers for Stevens reportedly resigned immediately following the announcement. Debbie Dingell, who represents Michigan in the House with Stevens, called her colleague’s network interview performance “painful.” Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel wrote on X that Stevens was “not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future.” Republicans were quick to welcome the endorsement. Rogers praised Stevens for showing “courage,” and Trump stated that she had been “very brave.” Stevens and El-Sayed have clashed over foreign policy since the primary. El-Sayed’s strong criticism of Israel divided state Democrats, leading to a recent dispute over a political ad from an outside liberal group that linked U.S. support for Israel to rising prices in the U.S. Stevens called on El-Sayed to condemn the ad. El-Sayed said he had nothing to do with the spot and disagreed with its contents, a response Stevens welcomed. Throughout the campaign, El-Sayed — who would become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate — has faced sharp attacks from both Rogers and Trump. The president invoked 9/11 and called him a “jihadist” without citing evidence, drawing accusations of Islamophobia and widespread criticism. Asked about the late endorsement on Sunday, El-Sayed dismissed the political fallout and stated he was focusing on issues affecting Michigan voters. “At the end of the day, I don’t think about Haley Stevens,” El-Sayed said on Sunday. “None of this matters.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments