Democrat Haley Stevens backs Republican in Michigan Senate race
Stevens' chief of staff and several aides resigned in protest, and the Michigan Democratic Party chair said she is no longer a member.
Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race on Sunday, drawing condemnation from party leaders, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the move "a despicable betrayal from Rep. Stevens" in a statement, saying Senate lawmakers remain united behind the party's chosen nominee.
The endorsement prompted an immediate departure of staff from Stevens' Capitol Hill office.
Justin German, who served as her chief of staff for eight years, said he and multiple aides resigned Sunday morning to support Abdul El-Sayed.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Stevens is not a current member of the party and will not be in the future.
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, also a Michigan Democrat, said voters care more about the price of gas and groceries than political drama.
She warned that anyone who makes the election about themselves rather than Michiganders and democracy should consider whether they are serving the greater good.
Slotkin said the state will elect El-Sayed to help put a check on President Trump in Congress.
Rep. Jared Huffman described Stevens' endorsement to Axios as "Pathetic, petty, selfish, unhinged."
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland told Axios he was dumbfounded that Stevens had said one thing to him the previous night and changed her position the next day.
Stevens said in a video posted on the social media platform X that El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign.
"I don't belong in Abdul's campaign," she said, adding that she was endorsing Rogers for the Senate.
The endorsement came on the eve of Tuesday's midterm congressional elections, a rare break with party unity.
The Michigan race is one of several that could determine whether Republicans keep control of the Senate for the last two years of Trump's presidency, or whether Democrats take control and make it harder for him to advance his agenda.
