Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan is facing growing backlash from fellow Democrats after endorsing Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers over her party’s nominee, Abdul El-Sayed, prompting private discussions about removing her from the House Democratic Caucus.
According to Axios, several House Democrats have privately pushed for Stevens to be expelled following her November 1 endorsement of Rogers, just days before the 2026 midterm elections. Three people familiar with the discussions described growing frustration within the caucus over her decision to publicly support a Republican candidate.
Stevens, who lost the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed in August, had previously indicated that she would support the party’s nominee. However, tensions between the two escalated in the final days of the campaign, particularly over disagreements involving Israel and an outside political advertisement that criticized U.S. support for Israel.
The dispute became public after El-Sayed’s campaign asked Stevens not to attend its events. Stevens subsequently appeared alongside Rogers at a church service in Detroit and announced her endorsement, drawing criticism from Democratic lawmakers and party leaders.
Some Democrats have openly called for Stevens’ removal. Reps. Lateefah Simon, Marc Veasey and Emily Randall expressed support for expulsion in comments reported by Axios. Other lawmakers have also criticized the endorsement, describing it as a breach of party loyalty.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democratic leaders would discuss appropriate next steps when lawmakers return to Washington. He described Stevens’ decision as one that had blindsided colleagues and isolated her from the caucus. No final decision on her status had been announced as of November 3.
The controversy comes as Michigan’s closely watched Senate race approaches Election Day, adding another layer of tension to an already divisive campaign. Stevens has defended her endorsement, saying she was being honest about what she was hearing from constituents, while maintaining that she still wants Democrats to win the Senate majority.
