On Monday’s episode of “The View,” co-host Sara Haines defended Rep. Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat, after Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. Haines pushed back against co-hosts who described the move as a betrayal.
Stevens said in a Sunday interview that El-Sayed’s anger and lack of kindness influenced her decision. Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro questioned her reasoning. Hostin said Stevens deserved criticism if a bruised ego was behind the endorsement.
Haines said she disagreed, while acknowledging that Islamophobia was complicating the debate. She also raised concerns about El-Sayed’s views and his past appearances with political streamer Hasan Piker, comparing that association to Republicans campaigning alongside Nick Fuentes.
Haines said crossing party lines could reflect conscience rather than disloyalty, pointing to Republican Liz Cheney’s break with her party. A registered independent, Haines called Stevens’ decision brave and said party loyalty should not be automatic.
“Integrity” means supporting a party when doing so comes at a cost, Haines argued. She said concern about Donald Trump’s conduct should not end discussion about what voters are willing to accept from their own side, adding that candidates and parties must earn support.
Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff disputed Haines’ defense. He said El-Sayed had already distanced himself from Piker, stopped campaigning with him and reportedly told him that his rhetoric was hurting the campaign. Shroff said those steps came before Stevens’ endorsement.
Shroff argued that Haines was using an issue El-Sayed had addressed to justify Stevens’ decision, while acknowledging concerns about Islamophobia and then moving past them. He described that as a double standard, saying hate was being treated as disqualifying on one side but not the other.
Whoopi Goldberg raised the timing of Stevens’ endorsement during the discussion. Haines said El-Sayed had also told Stevens he did not want her campaigning with him. Navarro maintained that Stevens’ decision was influenced by El-Sayed’s reluctance to have her at an event.
Alyssa Farah Griffin said Stevens had raised legitimate concerns about antisemitism. Griffin also defended the comparison with Cheney, saying independents should not be praised for crossing party lines in one case and condemned for doing so in another.
Shroff rejected that comparison. He said Cheney broke with Republicans over Trump’s conduct and concerns about democracy, while Stevens said she was opposing hate but endorsed Rogers in a race where, in Shroff’s view, anti-Muslim rhetoric had been central to Rogers’ campaign. He also noted that Stevens has described Republicans, including Rogers, as allowing Trump to act like a dictator.
The El-Sayed and Rogers campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
