Politics

Michigan Democrat Endorses Republican Opponent Days Before Midterms

By Chidanand Rajghatta

In a surprise move just 48 hours before Tuesday’s midterm elections, Democratic Michigan congresswoman Haley Stevens endorsed her Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, after losing a narrow primary to progressive Abdul El‑Sayed. Stevens, who has long supported Israel and was backed by the so‑called “Jewish lobby,” had been defeated by El‑Sayed by less than one percent in an August primary that highlighted divisions within the Democratic Party over Israel and the Gaza conflict. The endorsement, described by some as a last‑minute “defection,” shocked Democratic leaders. New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who had supported Stevens in the primary, called the decision a “despicable betrayal,” while others warned that Republicans would use and discard her. The event comes amid polls that show Democrats leading in all seven key Senate races, with five of those contests showing a lead of at least five percentage points. The polls also indicate a national environment favorable to Democrats, particularly in states like Kansas and Texas where the party has not won a Senate seat in decades. However, Democratic officials remain concerned that the electorate that turns out to vote may differ from the one reflected in polling data, especially given the historically different voter turnout patterns in midterm elections. The outcome of Tuesday’s vote will hinge on whether the Democratic advantage seen in polls translates into actual voter turnout.