Haley Stevens Bashed Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate Race Until She Endorsed Him

Representative Haley Stevens, Democrat of Michigan, was one of the fiercest critics of the Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman, in the state’s Senate race until her striking reversal on Sunday.

Ms. Stevens, who smiled next to Mr. Rogers at a Detroit church as a video announcing she had endorsed him was posted on social media, once pitched herself to Democratic voters as their best chance of stopping Mr. Rogers. She pilloried him for his stance on issues as various as health care, trade, the environment, abortion, election integrity and foreign policy. Ms. Stevens twice voted to impeach President Trump and frequently cast Mr. Rogers as one of his eager acolytes.

She narrowly lost the Democratic primary to Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, whom she initially endorsed after her loss. She still regularly criticized Mr. Rogers as recently as August, when she said, among other things, that he “will be another rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s dangerous agenda.”

As Ms. Stevens and Dr. El-Sayed publicly feuded in recent weeks over U.S. policy on Israel, their relationship deteriorated, leading to her defection to Mr. Rogers. Her decision led several of her staff members to resign and incensed Democrats nationwide, who feared her endorsement could put a key Senate seat at risk.

Before her reversal, here are some of the harshest critiques Ms. Stevens lobbed at Mr. Rogers over the course of the campaign:

• “Mike Rogers’ record on LGBTQ+ rights is repulsive. He has no business representing Michiganders.” (June 2026)

• “MAGA Mike is wrong for Michigan.” (April 2026)

• “Mike Rogers can’t hide his terrible record on abortion rights.” (June 2026)

• “Mike Rogers would be another vote against our environment.” (April 2026)

• “Don’t forget: Mike Rogers is an election denier!” (September 2025)

• “Mike Rogers is an out-of-touch, out-of-state millionaire who is unfit to represent Michigan in the Senate.” (September 2025)

• “Mike Rogers isn’t fighting for the middle class.” (February 2026)

• “He’s wrong for Michigan, and this November, we’re going to send him back to Florida.” (February 2026)

• “Trump’s rubber stamp Mike Rogers wouldn’t have batted an eye before stripping you of your health care.” (September 2025)

• “MAGA Mike Rogers pretends to talk tough on China, but the truth is he’s screwed over Michigan workers while making himself wealthier.” (May 2026)

• “Mike Rogers is just the latest MAGA grifter in politics for a paycheck.” (June 2026)

• Mike Rogers has “no clue what working Michiganders go through.” (August 2026)