It takes an unusually controversial candidate to persuade a Democrat to back a Republican she recently called racist. In Michigan, however, Rep. Haley Stevens has withdrawn her support for Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and endorsed Republican Mike Rogers instead.
BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales pointed to Stevens’ decision as an example of Democrats turning against El-Sayed. In a video, Stevens said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign and should keep her distance. She agreed, then announced her support for Rogers.
Stevens also said she did not want to be associated with Hasan Piker, whose appearances on college campuses she criticized. She argued that education was at stake and said hate was not representative of Michigan or what children should see.
Gonzales called the endorsement striking, arguing that it would take a particularly extreme candidate for a Democrat to cross party lines. She also criticized El-Sayed’s association with Piker, saying the partnership had drawn criticism from some media commentators.
Stevens’ decision has angered some Democrats, including Piker. In a recent livestream, he said members of his political coalition may disagree with his views but should recognize his importance to the group. He then harshly attacked Stevens, calling her foolish and accusing her of acting like a child.
Democratic strategist James Carville also criticized Stevens, saying her political career was finished and that Republicans would not treat her as a genuine ally. He compared her standing with them to a used condom, adding that Democrats had little regard for her either.
Gonzales said the reaction showed how, in her view, political opponents would use a person’s principles against them. She argued that they prioritized winning over country or party loyalty.
