Haley Stevens intended to stay silent in Michigan Senate race, her friends say

By Mary McCue Bell - The Washington Times - Monday, November 2, 2026

Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan was never supposed to endorse Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers in his race against Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, according to her friends.

Jordan Acker, regent of the University of Michigan, said he spoke several times with Ms. Stevens over the weekend.

“At 8:58 this morning, she told me she intended to remain silent. I don’t know what changed in the two hours that followed. I want to believe she was being truthful with me,” Mr. Acker said Sunday on social media.

People were interested in these podcasts

Ms. Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary for the Senate to Mr. El-Sayed, endorsed Mr. Rogers on Sunday, two days before the election, which could determine which party controls the upper chamber.

But Mr. Acker said her last-minute attempt to sway voters toward Mr. Rogers contradicts her intentions.

“It is painful to watch someone you care about go through something like this. It is even more painful to worry about the influence of those closest to her,” the former Obama administration attorney said. “I don’t know what happened this morning, and I won’t pretend that I do. Haley is my friend. I am deeply concerned for her well-being. She deserves dignity, independence, and the freedom to make her own decisions. But at the end of the day, this is bigger than any one person or political controversy.”

Rep. Debbie Dingell, Michigan Democrat, said Ms. Stevens told her during their call Saturday night she would not endorse the Republican incumbent.

“Yes, she did,” she told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “Multiple times.”

Ms. Stevens had endorsed Mr. El-Sayed after the August primary, and on Wednesday she told CNN she still planned to vote for him.

During her appearance with Mr. Rogers at a Detroit church on Sunday, Ms. Stevens said, “We can’t stand with hate,” sharply criticizing the Democratic nominee.

Her fiance, Jason Turkish, announced his plans to vote for Mr. Rogers in an interview published Wednesday, in which he said he had become convinced that Mr. El-Sayed is an antisemite.

Mr. Acker said that he has known Mr. Turkish, a Jewish Democrat, for years, and respects him.

“But I have become deeply troubled by his behavior,” he said. “I’ve heard serious concerns about his treatment of Haley’s staff, friends, and allies. My own experiences have only deepened those concerns.”

Ms. Stevens’ former campaign spokesperson, Caitlin Legacki, said Mr. Turkish was an “extraordinarily toxic presence, was verbally abusive to staff and had some of the worst political instincts I’ve ever witnessed.”

He is “vaporizing Haley’s future so that he can be a main character in this moment and it is sad to watch her participate in that,” Ms. Legacki said Saturday on social media.

Ms. Stevens faced a massive staff exodus and political backlash after her endorsement. Several of her congressional staff, including her chief of staff of eight years, Justin German, resigned immediately.

Mr. German released a statement on behalf of the team saying they were “shocked and heartbroken” by her decision and reaffirming their support for Mr. El-Sayed.

Mr. Acker said her staff deserves “respect, accountability, and answers.”

“We cannot lose sight of the people affected by these decisions and this conduct: her constituents, her staff, her friends, and the people who have placed their trust in her,” he said.