‘Despicable Betrayal’: Rep. Haley Stevens Condemned for Decision to Disavow El-Sayed and Endorse Republican Rogers

Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., has done the “unforgivable,” at least in the eyes of Democratic leadership. She has thought for herself and fought antisemitism.

On Nov. 1, the former Democratic candidate for Senate stunned the political world by pulling her endorsement of Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed and endorsing Republican Mike Rogers. The reason? El-Sayed’s refusal to condemn an ad for his campaign from the uncle of El-Sayed’s campaign pal Hasan Piker, along with his repeated condemnations of Israel.

In a statement announcing the decision, Stevens condemned the message of “hate” spread by the pair, insisting the rhetoric isn’t what Michiganders are all about.

Stevens couldn’t have caused more intraparty outrage had she kissed an ICE agent in the foyer of Mar-a-Lago.

Both Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused Stevens of betrayal. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, also of Michigan, called the move “unforgivable.”

Schumer said Stevens is guilty of a “despicable betrayal.” (The Jews targeted on American campuses by those egged on by the likes of El-Sayed and Piker might want to have a word about what is and what is not a “despicable betrayal.”)

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared that Stevens has chosen to “dangerously betray” Michigan. By not wanting to turn Detroit into Paris and Gaza?

Current House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries strongly suggested he will exact a pound of flesh from Stevens for not staying quiet.

“Haley Stevens made a terrible decision, blindsided everyone and isolated herself from the House Democratic caucus,” Jeffries told Politico. “We will have a discussion about appropriate next steps upon our return.”

A brief pause. Is Jeffries now admitting that to step out against antisemitism is to isolate oneself from the Democratic caucus? Oy.

A Tent the Size of a Hankie … or Should I Say a Hijab?

Stevens insists she’s still a Democrat. “90% of the votes I’m going to cast are going to be for Democrats,” she said. “My vote for Senate, I am just one vote, as is every Michigander. My vote for Senate is going to be with Mike Rogers. And I will tell you why. Because we have to stand with country.”

“I’m still a very proud Democrat,” she also said. “I’m just letting you know where I am.”

Not if the Democratic National Committee has anything to say about it. Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin wants Stevens booted out of the party’s oh-so-tolerant tent, saying she’s “no longer wanted” in the party.

The Michigan Democratic Party has already kicked her to the curb.

“Congresswoman Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party,” the stat’s part chair Curtis Hertel posted on X: “nor will she be in the future.”

In Washington, CNN reports that furious House Democrats are talking about tossing Stevens out of their caucus.

President Donald Trump said he’d be glad to have Stevens in the GOP, telling a Wednesday night rally crowd, “She showed great and almost unprecedented loyalty to the people of Michigan.”

Support for Stevens

Stevens is getting some Democratic backing. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman—whom El-Sayed suggested earlier in the campaign was an “ogre” who should have his head on a pike—shredded the candidate and his “little man syndrome.”

“Rep. Haley Stevens simply held Abdul El-Sayed accountable for his views on Israel and fixation with Jewish money,” Fetterman told Jewish Insider. “El-Sayed is going after a woman and banning her from campaign events for having an opinion.”

Also, former Democratic Rep. Hansen Clarke followed Stevens’ lead and endorsed Rogers. In his case, Clarke cited having partnered with Rogers in Congress.

Stevens’ own mother, Maria Marcotte, went to bat for her daughter in a statement to CNN, condemning the idea the representative had been pressured to support Rogers. Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, publicly endorsed the Republican last week.

“Haley is her own woman. She always has been. Suggesting a man made her decision for her is insulting to her, and it is insulting to me as her mother,” Marcotte said. “We watched what she went through this year. Haley wasn’t even engaged when she was screamed off her own convention stage. It was Haley who was chased out of a park and called a Zionist pig. It was Haley who was told not to come to church,” she said.

Stevens herself summarized the situation to CNN: “I don’t like seeing a Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate campaigning with somebody saying America deserved 9/11. I don’t like that.”

And for that she’s being treated by her party worse than a terrorist.

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