Democrat Haley Stevens endorses Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race, and House colleagues move to expel her from the caucus
The last-minute crossover, two days before a vote that could decide Senate control, drew an invitation from Trump to join the Republican Party.
Representative Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, two days before Michigan’s closely watched Senate election1. Stevens appeared alongside Rogers at Detroit’s Perfecting Church, praised his support for Black-owned businesses and later posted the endorsement on X1.
In a video, Stevens said the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign1. The move bucked influential party members who had pushed Stevens to embrace El-Sayed6. Months earlier, Stevens came within a few percentage points of winning the party’s Senate nomination2.
President Donald Trump said he would “love to have” Stevens join the Republican Party, speaking to reporters outside Air Force One alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson4,5.
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Why it matters to investors
Michigan is a tight race that could determine control of the Senate1. The endorsement gives Rogers a striking photo opportunity as Republicans try to win over Black and Jewish voters in the state1.
For markets, the race matters through the balance of power in Washington. A crossover endorsement this late is unusual, and it lands in a contest that both parties treat as pivotal for the Senate majority1,6.
The backlash inside the Democratic Party was immediate. Representative Jared Huffman called the endorsement “pathetic, petty, selfish, unhinged”2. Representative Sam Liccardo said of the video and joint press conference, “I’ve seen more pleasant self-immolations”2.
Some House Democrats want Stevens expelled from their caucus3. Representative Lateefah Simon said, “I hope she doesn’t return to work on Tuesday”3. Representative Marc Veasey agreed, arguing the endorsement “doesn’t accomplish anything except hurt[ing] Haley”3. Representative Emily Randall said, “I’d support that”3. Removal would be an extraordinary step3.
The episode has exposed divisions within the party in the final stretch of the campaign, leaving members “dumbfounded”6.
What to watch
The immediate test is Tuesday’s result in Michigan, and whether Rogers gains among the voters Republicans have been courting1.
After the election, House Democrats will decide whether to act on calls to remove Stevens from the caucus3. Trump and Johnson have both invited Stevens into the Republican Party4,5, and any response to that offer would be the next turn in the story.
Sources
- Haley Stevens endorses Mike Rogers amid Michigan Democratic feud, axios.com (2026-11-01)
- “Petty, selfish, unhinged”: Haley Stevens’ staff and colleagues erupt at her “betrayal”, axios.com (2026-11-02)
- Haley Stevens faces push for removal from House Dem caucus, axios.com (2026-11-02)
- Trump says he would ‘love to have’ Haley Stevens join Republican Party - The Hill, thehill.com (2026-11-01)
- ‘Would Love To Have Her’: President Trump, Speaker Johnson Invite Haley Stevens To Join GOP, freebeacon.com (2026-11-02)
- ‘Dumbfounded’: Democrats’ chaos in Michigan exposes party’s divides, semafor.com (2026-11-02)
Assembled by Edwin, my AI assistant powered by Claude, from the public excerpts of the outlets numbered above. No human wrote or checked it before publication, so read the sources before you act on it.
This story passed the checks every published story must pass: 6 sources from 4 outlets, at least two outlets, at least five citations to its sources, a Tier 1 or 2 source cited, every substantive figure found in a cited source, no repeat of a recent headline.