U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens gave voters a November surprise on Sunday showing up at Perfecting Church on Detroit’s east side accompanied by Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Rogers.
The Congresswoman in recent days has distanced herself from Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed for a controversial ad paid for by an outside group critical of Israel and his association with Hasan Piker, a Californian Twitch streamer.
Outside the church after service she told a swarm of national reporters her decision to endorse the Republican was driven by safety concerns for Jewish residents. Stevens’ shocking appearance with Rogers Sunday was first captured by the Michigan Chronicle.
She was ushered toward the front at Pastor Marvin Winan’s east side church on Nevada and Van Dyke after stepping out of a Black SUV and entering beside a security guard without taking questions from a Michigan Chronicle reporter.
Before taking her seat, Stevens was captured touting support for Black owned businesses, “And that’s the policy that Mike’s going to take on,” she said.
Stevens’ post endorsing El-Sayed from Aug. 5, the day after she was narrowly defeated, hasn’t been removed from her social media: “I love Michigan and am so proud to have put up my hand to serve. I spoke with Abdul a few moments ago to offer him my full support as we work to defeat Mike Rogers this November. Thank you, Michigan”
The move is a stunning reversal from Stevens, a U.S. representative whose staff has reportedly largely quit after news broke she would endorse Rogers. With two days before the Nov. 3 election, it’s unclear whether Stevens’ decision will impact the minds of voters.
“Some of those incredible people are now working their asses off to elect Abdul and so many other values Haley claimed to care about on the line,” said Arik Wolk, a former Stevens campaign staffer. “By endorsing Mike Rogers she has betrayed all those values. This is ridiculous and pathetic.”
When asked by a Michigan Chronicle reporter how she could support a candidate who stands for policies that oppose what she says she stands for, Stevens said, “Nothing’s perfect.”
Rogers’ campaign used a clip of the press conference in a TV ad that aired on Detroit TV stations Sunday night.
El-Sayed dismissed the endorsement by his former opponent, saying “none of this matters” outside an event standing next to U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina.
State Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, who supported Haley Stevens in the primary told Michigan Chronicle the endorsement is a distraction.
“You don’t switch teams,” Carter said. “It makes people question your integrity.”
Benika Jones, a resident of the North End, told Michigan Chronicle standing outside of the El-Sayed event near her home that Stevens “is a hater,” for endorsing Rogers, a Republican. Jones said her vote isn’t it’s not about party loyalty, but the work she’s already seen El-Sayed do in Detroit.
“I remember when he took over to the department of health, when we was going to Herman Keifer (Hospital) and sitting in that nasty little room to get birth certificates,” Jones said. “I support not just Democrats, but definitely Abdul. Show me you’re going to do something, I’m definitely here for that.”
El-Sayed’s campaign has invited national surrogates, like former Congressman Jamaal Bowman from New York. He told the Michigan Chronicle Democrats are “locked in” ahead of the general election that could determine the control of the U.S. Senate.
“She says she’s for Black voters but chooses a Republican… It’s the establishment trying to maintain power,” Bowman said of Democratic U.S. Rep Haley Stevens’ decision to endorse Republican Mike Rogers after dropping her endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed.
Others pointed out the nature of Stevens’ endorsement at Perfecting Church, which first cited Rogers’ commitment to Black owned businesses.
“For me, it’s the part about Black Detroiters being used as the backdrop and props for Haley Stevens to make a decision to support the antagonist of our rights, wellbeing, and city,” said Detroit City Council member Denzel McCampbell. For her to have the audacity to even think she could speak for us and for her to do so in an effort to uplift one’s own vanity and personal profile, while throwing us into the crosshairs of continued harm. Shameful.”