Rep. Haley Stevens’s (D-MI) chief of staff has resigned after the Democratic congresswoman endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers for Senate in Michigan.
Justin German, who has served as Stevens’s chief of staff since she first took office in the House in January 2019, said “many members” of Stevens’ staff, including himself, resigned on Sunday. He cited Stevens’s endorsement of Rogers, which came just two days ahead of Election Day, as her feud with Democratic Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed quickly escalated throughout the weekend.
“As Haley Stevens’ Chief of Staff for eight years, I speak on behalf of our team in wholeheartedly supporting Abdul El-Sayed for Senate. This election is too important to sow division or stand on the sidelines. We are shocked and heartbroken by Congresswoman Stevens’ decision to support Mike Rogers,” German said.
After a weekend of sparring with el Sayed online over a dispute stemming from their differing opinions on U.S. support for Israel, Stevens endorsed and attended a church service with Rogers.
Stevens had initially planned on attending a church service with el Sayed in what would have been her first-ever campaign appearance with the Democratic candidate. But after el Sayed’s campaign asked Stevens not to stump with them, Stevens switched gears and backed Rogers.
Stevens, who lost to el Sayed in the race’s Democratic primary, made the stunning reversal after endorsing el Sayed in August.
“As of this morning, many members of our team have resigned, including myself. We encourage everyone to exercise their civic duty, vote for Abdul and Democrats up and down the ballot, and stand up for the America we all believe in,” German said, disavowing Stevens’ cross-party endorsement.
Stevens and el Sayed’s dispute largely centered on an advertisement that Jewish leaders have condemned as antisemitic. The ad, produced by Rebellion PAC, blames the high cost of groceries on U.S. financial support for Israel. Stevens called for el Sayed to denounce the ad and apologize for the anti-Israel allegation.
El Sayed had already distanced himself from the ad, noting that he was not associated with it and accused Stevens of “relitigating” their primary before his campaign asked her to not attend its events. Stevens pointed to this in her endorsement message for Rogers.
“Our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away. And he’s right, and that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today. I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign. I do not stand with Hasan Piker, who gets trafficked on our college campuses,” Stevens said.
HALEY STEVENS FLIPS ENDORSEMENT TO MIKE ROGERS AFTER SPLIT WITH EL SAYED
Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel denounced Stevens’s endorsement, stiff-arming her from the party.
“Congresswoman Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future,” Hertel said.