Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens has launched a fierce critique of her own party in a nearly 900-word statement calling for “healing” after her extraordinary decision to endorse a Republican Senate candidate.
The Michigan congresswoman defended her reversal in a lengthy post on X Monday night, accusing fellow Democrats of intolerance, attacking their nominee Abdul El-Sayed and angrily rejecting suggestions that her fiancé influenced her choice.
Stevens, who lost the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed in August, said she remained a proud Democrat even after backing Republican Mike Rogers just two days before the midterm election.
“My decision to withdraw my endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed and support Mike Rogers has angered many Democrats. I understand why,” she wrote.
“But it was not impulsive, and it was not made for me by anyone else. It was a decision of conscience.”
Her statement, titled “The Decisions We Make,” followed a bruising CNN interview Sunday night in which Anderson Cooper repeatedly pressed Stevens to explain what had changed her position.
It also came after an extraordinary backlash from senior Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called her endorsement a “despicable betrayal,” while several members of her congressional staff resigned in protest.
Rather than apologize, however, Stevens stood by her decision. She accused Democrats of punishing dissent and questioned whether the party truly believed in the inclusion it so often advocates.
Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens has called for “healing” within her party after facing intense criticism for endorsing Republican Mike Rogers
In her statement, “The Decisions We Make,” Stevens accused Democrats of silencing dissent and insisted her fiancé had no role in her decision
Stevens shocked fellow Democrats by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan’s Senate seat, despite previously warning that the country could not afford another MAGA senator
“Instead of asking why a lifelong Democrat reached this point, some leaders rushed to condemn me, question my motives, and push me out,” she wrote.
“We cannot preach inclusion while punishing dissent. We cannot promise to heal a divided country if we cannot tolerate disagreement among ourselves.”
Stevens also rejected claims that her fiancé, Jason Turkish, was responsible for her dramatic change of allegiance.
Turkish had separately said he planned to vote for Rogers before Stevens made her endorsement public.
“Some critics have also dragged my fiancé into this, suggesting he or others must have made my decision for me,” she wrote.
“A woman can serve in Congress, run statewide, and fight for her convictions, and still be told that when she makes a choice people dislike, someone else must be pulling the strings.
“That is sexism dressed up as political analysis. My fiancé has his own views. I have mine. I made this decision, and I am proud of it.”
Stevens then detailed a series of complaints about El-Sayed, saying she had been sidelined by his campaign despite endorsing him after their divisive primary battle.
Stevens rejected claims that her fiancé, Jason Turkish, left, had driven her decision. Turkish had already said he intended to vote for Rogers
Stevens appeared on CNN Sunday night after stunning Democrats by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers instead of her party’s nominee, Abdul El-Sayed
Anderson Cooper challenged Stevens during a tense live interview as she struggled to explain why she had abruptly shifted her support to Rogers
“I was shut out. The endorsement was welcomed; the people behind it seemed to be forgotten,” she wrote.
She criticized an advertisement from an outside group backing El-Sayed that connected rising grocery prices with American support for Israel.
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Stevens also pointed to an El-Sayed campaign advertisement featuring conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, saying it had alienated Black and Jewish voters.
“Blaming Israel for the price of eggs and elevating Tucker Carlson are not the way to build trust or bring people together,” she wrote.
She further criticized El-Sayed’s association with controversial streamer Hasan Piker, accusing the candidate of poor judgment for appearing alongside someone whose comments about Jewish Americans she found troubling.
Stevens acknowledged that El-Sayed had condemned Piker’s comparison of outreach to Jewish voters in West Bloomfield with canvassing in a Ku Klux Klan neighborhood.
Even so, she argued that El-Sayed’s initial decision to embrace the streamer raised serious questions about his fitness for public office.
“Once I concluded that Abdul El-Sayed is not fit to serve in the United States Senate, I had to confront who should,” she wrote.
“I chose Mike Rogers, with the hope that he can serve in the tradition of John McCain: a senator willing to put country before party.”
Stevens accused Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed of divisive campaigning and poor judgment, ultimately declaring him unfit for the Senate
Dingell, appearing on CNN after Stevens, called the Sunday night exchange “one of the most painful interviews I have watched”
Stevens’ detailed defense arrived less than 24 hours after she struggled to explain to Cooper why she had changed course so suddenly.
Fellow Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell said Stevens had assured her Saturday night that she would not endorse Rogers.
The next morning, however, Stevens appeared with the Republican at Detroit’s Perfecting Church after abandoning plans to campaign alongside El-Sayed.
When Cooper asked what had changed overnight, Stevens replied: “I woke up this morning clear-eyed, fresh and focused on what was in my heart and that’s that.”
As the interview grew more confrontational, Stevens accused the CNN host of being upset with her.
“You’re not really answering any of my questions, so it’s somewhat frustrating,” Cooper replied.
Republicans welcomed the development. President Donald Trump praised Stevens as a “Highly Respected Democrat” and said he hoped she would eventually join the Republican Party.
Democratic leaders, by contrast, responded with sharp criticism.
Donald Trump praised Stevens’ endorsement of Mike Rogers, calling the decision “a thing of bravery”
Haley Stevens stunned Democrats by appearing with Republican Mike Rogers at a Detroit-area church service, months after warning he would be another “rubber stamp” for Trump
Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel accused Stevens of abandoning her principles, while Dingell called the CNN exchange “one of the most painful interviews I have watched.”
Stevens’ longtime chief of staff also resigned, saying: “We are shocked and heartbroken.”
Despite the backlash, Stevens concluded her statement by saying she wanted to help rebuild the same party whose Senate nominee she had just abandoned.
“There is healing to be done in Michigan, in our party, and in our country,” she wrote.
“We can build a stronger, more welcoming, more courageous Democratic Party. And I plan to help lead that effort.”
