Edition · Mon 02 Nov 2026
Politics Desk
A Democrat Crosses the Aisle in Michigan and Shakes Up a Pivotal Senate Fight
Democrat Haley Stevens backed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race, while a poll showed Abdul El-Sayed ahead 53% to 42%. A judge also dismissed a federal lawsuit tied to Alaska's contest.
By Rachel · Edited by Chanan Zevin - Chief Editor and Head of Desks
Published
Stevens breaks ranks to back Rogers in Detroit
Representative Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat who lost her party's primary in August, crossed party lines on Sunday, Nov 2, to endorse Republican Mike Rogers in the state's Senate contest two days before the midterm elections. Stevens appeared alongside Rogers after attending the Perfecting Church in Detroit and stated in a social media video that she did not belong in the campaign of Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Stevens breaks ranks to back Rogers in Detroit
The planned show of party unity unraveled after Stevens called on El-Sayed to condemn an outside group's advertisement that she said blamed Israel for high grocery prices, telling CNN that the message was painful for voters who felt alienated from the ticket. According to a person familiar with the matter, El-Sayed's campaign had previously asked Stevens to skip campaign events through Election Day to avoid distracting from central platform topics.
Stevens breaks ranks to back Rogers in Detroit
Speaking at a rally in Iowa on Sunday, President Donald Trump praised the move and invited Stevens to join the Republican Party, telling reporters that backing Rogers was a smart step. Rogers commended Stevens at the Detroit church appearance, calling her endorsement an act of courage amid what he described as virulent rhetoric from within the Democratic Party.
Campaign donations surge alongside polling lead
Despite the high-profile defection, El-Sayed maintained an advantage in public polling conducted over the weekend. A New York Times and Siena poll released on Sunday showed El-Sayed leading Rogers with 53% of voter support compared to 42% for the Republican candidate.
Campaign donations surge alongside polling lead
Financial backing for the Democratic nominee also accelerated immediately following the announcement. An El-Sayed campaign spokesperson reported that the operation raised $1.2 million within four hours of Stevens endorsing Rogers, marking its second-highest single-day fundraising total since the August primary contest. In an interview with MS NOW, El-Sayed declined to address the endorsement directly, stating that the election centered on voters across Michigan rather than any individual candidate.
Campaign donations surge alongside polling lead
The cross-party endorsement triggered immediate fallout within Stevens' own political operation, as multiple members of her congressional staff resigned over her decision, according to reports from CNN and The Hill. Voters in the Detroit suburbs also reacted sharply, with 72-year-old voter Pamela Johnson describing Stevens as a traitor after voting for El-Sayed in Warren.
Court dismisses Alaska ballot challenge
This shift in Michigan unfolds as both parties battle for narrow majorities across the country, where control of Congress will shape federal policy and economic governance. If Democrats gain control of either chamber, they could block Trump's legislative agenda for his final two years in office and open investigations into the administration, while the White House has prepared to enact elements of Trump's agenda without congressional approval, including tariff pressure on trading partners.
Court dismisses Alaska ballot challenge
Legal maneuvers simultaneously impacted other closely watched Senate races ahead of Tuesday's vote. In Alaska, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by the US Justice Department that attempted to halt the certification of election results if Republican incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan narrowly lost. The Justice Department had argued that the presence of an independent candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot could confuse voters.
Court dismisses Alaska ballot challenge
The dispute intensified after The New York Times reported that Democratic challenger Mary Peltola's campaign was involved in recruiting Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. to run as a spoiler, though Peltola and Sullivan Jr. both denied coordinating with each other. Senator Sullivan told CNN on Sunday that he would accept the election results while calling the challenger a decoy, even as Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy suggested he might refuse to certify a Peltola victory.