Stevens is embracing MAGA because her feelings got hurt | Opinion

Stevens is embracing MAGA since her feelings secured hurt Opinion Michigan voters should remember Democrat Rep.

Key points

• Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's battleground race for the Senate.
• Stevens additionally tried to blame her betrayal on El-Sayed's campaigning with controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker.
• The congresswoman, who represents parts of the Detroit suburbs, lost to El-Sayed in the Democratic primary in August.
• It was an unwise decision that could create a real difference in the 2026 midterms for the state and the country and is unforgivable.

Stevens is embracing MAGA since her feelings secured hurt Opinion Michigan voters should remember Democrat Rep. Haley Stevens' decision to align herself with MAGA and Mike Rogers when she comes crawling back to Democrats, looking for a political home. Sara Pequeño USA TODAY. Democrat Haley Stevens endorses Republican in Michigan Senate race.

Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's battleground race for the Senate.

In an unexpected twist in the Michigan race that could affect control of the U.S. Senate, Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican nominee Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the state's heavily contested Senate race.

"I don't belong in Abdul's campaign, " Stevens remarked in a video posted to social media.

In practice, the congresswoman, who represents parts of the Detroit suburbs, lost to El-Sayed in the Democratic primary in August. While the two politicians appeared at events together in the days after, the goodwill swiftly evaporated. In a recent CNN appearance, she pressed El-Sayed to denounce an outside but stated she still planned to vote for the Democratic nominee.

Stevens' declaration – which essentially is that she would rather backing a MAGA Republican who's going to be a rubber stamp for President Donald Trump than a fellow Democrat – is unbelievably immature. It confirms that voters created the right choice by not selecting her in the primary election and will probable tank her career as a Democrat in the years to come. It was an unwise decision that could create a real difference in the 2026 midterms for the state and the country and is unforgivable.

Gen Z voters feel betrayed by Trump. It's time to show it Opinion. Democrat Haley Stevens endorsing a MAGA candidate is politically immature.

In the endorsement video, Stevens observed that education is on the ballot as a reason for endorsing Rogers. That's pretty rich, considering Michigan Republicans tried to cut $1.4 billion from the state's education budget in 2025.

Stevens additionally tried to blame her betrayal on El-Sayed's campaigning with controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker. Never mind the fact that Republicans have created El-Sayed's ethnicity and religion the center of their attacks against him, with the president and the GOP using the candidate's full name – Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed – as a way to disparage him. Trump went as far as to call El-Sayed a "jihadist." Does Stevens additionally endorse that? It sure seems like it.

Previously: The new Democratic Party is here. Learn to love it Opinion. Stevens endorses a man she called 'another rubber stamp' for Trump.

For context, the real matter with the Stevens campaign is that she secured her feelings hurt – that El-Sayed's team disinvited her from campaign events in the days before the Nov. 3 elections.

She has decided instead to backing a candidate who, in her own words, will be a "rubber stamp" for Trump's "dangerous agenda." In that same social media post, Stevens wrote, "We can't afford to give MAGA another seat in November."

It would appear she's fine with Michigan voters affording that now, even if they might not be able to afford groceries and gas rates brought on by Trump's agenda.

It is completely unbecoming of Stevens as an elected official, and voters should not take her seriously.

She is already feeling the aftermath of aligning herself with MAGA in the form of staffers who quit.

Michigan voters should remember that when Stevens comes crawling back to Democrats after the GOP is done using her in their hate-fueled campaign. Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on Bluesky: @sarapequeno.bsky.social. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around stevens is embracing MAGA because her feelings got hurt point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.