Michigan Democrat Endorses Republican Rival in Tight US Senate Race

A row inside the Democratic Party in the US state of Michigan has escalated just days before Tuesday's midterm elections. Haley Stevens, a Democrat and former member of Congress, said on Sunday that she is endorsing Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers rather than her own party's nominee, Abdul El-Sayed. The midterms will decide which party controls Congress for the next two years, and analysts regard the Michigan Senate contest as one of the tightest.

A surprise appearance at a church

Stevens, who lost the Democratic nomination to El-Sayed, unexpectedly appeared alongside Rogers at a church on Sunday. Shortly afterwards she posted a video on X saying she does not belong in El-Sayed's campaign. She said that what she is seeing from the Democratic nominee right now does not reflect the values of Michiganders, and confirmed her support for Rogers.

What triggered the dispute

Stevens said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign. The two had been due to appear together at an event on Sunday, but El-Sayed reportedly asked her not to attend. They had previously clashed publicly over a campaign advert from a liberal group that blamed Israel for high food prices. El-Sayed criticised the advert and said he had nothing to do with its content. He has not commented on Stevens's endorsement of his opponent.

Michigan is one of a handful of battleground contests that will ultimately determine control of the US Senate.