Detroit (United States) (AFP) – The unexpected support of a Michigan elected official for the Republican candidate for senator in this northern US state is shaking Democrats in the home stretch of the mid-term elections.

Published on: 02/11/2026 - 11:45 Modified on: 02/11/2026 - 14:26

Turning around in spectacular fashion, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens on Sunday lent her support to Republican Mike Rogers, in one of the most high-profile contests in the election taking place on Tuesday.

However, it is crucial for the Democrats, in their quest to win the US Senate, to retain their seat in Michigan and therefore to see their candidate Abdul El-Sayed win.

In a video published in a context of growing tensions with Mr. El-Sayed who had beaten her in the Democratic primary, Ms. Stevens said she gave her “support to Mike Rogers for the United States Senate”. She then appeared alongside him during a religious service in an African-American church.

“This is an abject betrayal,” said the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, aware that it is possible that control of the Senate will be decided by one seat.

“Wow, it’s HUGE!”, on the contrary reacted Donald Trump on his Truth Social network. “Haley said what few people dare to say,” he continued, praising the representative’s “loyalty” and “courage,” and noting her influence with Jewish and African-American voters.

The elected member of the House of Representatives and Mr. El-Sayed disagree on American policy regarding Israel.

In her video posted on Sunday, Ms. Stevens claims "not to have (her) place in Abdul's campaign" and criticizes the candidate for pro-Palestinian positions of promoting "hate" speech.

“Betrayal” and key votes

On Saturday, the latter declared that he did not want the presence of the centrist elected official at a campaign event the next day.

Asked about this defection, Abdul El-Sayed, who could become the first Muslim senator in the United States, said he was not "thinking about Haley Stevens", adding that he was "less interested in political politics than in public policies".

The votes of Michigan's traditionally Democratic African-American and Jewish communities could prove key.

Before this twist, the polls gave Mr. El-Sayed a slight lead over Mr. Rogers.

The Michigan Democratic Party announced on Sunday that it was excluding Haley Stevens from its ranks and other voices called for her to be removed from the Democratic group in the House, even if the representative assured that she remained "a proud Democrat."

A sign of the emotion provoked, many other democratic personalities reacted, including the mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani who also spoke of "betrayal". Senator Bernie Sanders agreed with Haley Stevens' chief of staff and other aides who resigned.

Met by AFP in Detroit, supporters of Abdul El-Sayed unanimously condemn Ms. Stevens' about-face, which boosts Mike Rogers' chances in the senatorial race in their state of Michigan.

Haley Stevens apparently made her decision between Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Asked several times on CNN on Sunday about what made her change her mind during the night, Haley Stevens was unable to explain it.

This quarrel confirms the deep divisions within the Democratic Party over American support for Israel, an issue which should continue to torment the American left during the primaries for the 2028 presidential election.

© 2026 AFP

The content you are trying to access does not exist or is no longer available.