House Democrats are talking about kicking Rep. Haley Stevens out of their caucus after she endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race, while Stevens calls her choice a “decision of conscience.”
What happened Monday
On the eve of the 2026 midterms, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Stevens “made a terrible decision, blindsided everyone and isolated herself” from Democrats, according to NBC News, Axios and The Hill. He said the caucus will discuss “appropriate next steps” when Congress returns after Election Day.
Several colleagues went further. Reps. Lateefah Simon of California, Marc Veasey of Texas and Emily Randall of Washington told Axios they support removing Stevens from the caucus. Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois wrote on X that Stevens “must be removed.”
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Stevens is no longer a state party member and will not be in the future, according to Fox News. Much of her congressional staff resigned after Sunday’s endorsement, including her chief of staff, according to free reporting that quoted departing aides.
Stevens’s defense — and Rogers’s thanks
Late Monday, Stevens posted a long X article. She wrote that the move “was not impulsive” and was “a decision of conscience.” Once she concluded Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed is “not fit to serve in the United States Senate,” she said, she chose Rogers.
She cited a rift over an outside ad linking grocery prices to U.S. support for Israel, and being told she was no longer welcome at El-Sayed’s events. In a CNN interview covered by CBS News, she said she remains a Democrat and still wants Democrats to win the Senate.
Rogers praised her at a Michigan rally, saying she “had enough courage to believe that that was more important than party,” CBS News reported. Vice President JD Vance told reporters the endorsement “helps.”
How Democrats and El-Sayed responded
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the endorsement a “despicable betrayal,” according to The Guardian and CBS News. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Stevens betrayed Michigan families by backing Rogers, CBS reported.
El-Sayed’s campaign said it raised more than $2.4 million on Sunday — a single-day record — with more than 26,000 first-time donors, according to AP and CBS. At Monday rallies, El-Sayed largely avoided naming Stevens and focused on turnout. Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell said the episode is “galvanizing” voters behind him.
Why it matters
- Michigan’s Senate seat is one of a handful that could decide which party controls the chamber after Tuesday’s vote.
- House Democratic rules say members should not campaign for non-Democrats in partisan federal races; leaders say any punishment waits until after Election Day.
- Stevens is leaving Congress at the end of her term; some colleagues say they may still need her vote in the lame-duck session.
Neither side is declaring a winner in Michigan. Voters settle the race on Tuesday.
Sources: NBC News; Axios; AP News; CBS News; The Hill; Fox News; Haley Stevens on X, Nov. 2, 2026
