Donald Trump praised Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens for endorsing Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race. The move reportedly helped Rogers’ Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, raise millions.
El-Sayed’s campaign said it raised a record $2.4 million in a single day following Stevens’ endorsement of Rogers ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign reports record $2.4 million haul after Haley Stevens backs Mike Rogers
Stevens surprised fellow Democrats when she endorsed Rogers on Sunday, following months of tension with El-Sayed.
Trump welcomed her decision and described it as an “act of bravery” that demonstrated “great loyalty to Michigan.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also praised Stevens for crossing party lines.
However, El-Sayed’s campaign reported its strongest fundraising day following the announcement.
According to campaign officials, more than 65,000 donors contributed to the $2.4 million fundraising total, with nearly half making their first donation.
The campaign said it planned to use the money to promote El-Sayed’s priorities, including Medicare for All and reducing the influence of money in politics.
The endorsement followed a difficult Democratic primary in August, when El-Sayed defeated Stevens by approximately one percentage point.
Although the two initially appeared together following the primary, their relationship reportedly deteriorated over disagreements surrounding campaign advertisements and party priorities.
Stevens explained that she supported Rogers because she opposed the direction the Democratic Party was taking.
She also criticized what she described as extreme divisions within the party.
Rogers defended her decision, while El-Sayed dismissed its importance to his campaign.
“At the end of the day. I actually don’t think about Haley Stevens,” El-Sayed told reporters.
As per ABC News, Stevens’ decision also drew criticism from prominent Democrats.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused her of blindsiding colleagues and said party leaders would consider their next steps after the election.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel also criticized the endorsement and said Stevens was no longer a member of the state party and would not be one in the future.
Meanwhile, Stevens maintained that she still identified with the Democratic Party.
Despite the reported fundraising surge, ABC News did not establish whether Stevens’ endorsement had influenced voter preferences in Michigan Senate race.
Nevertheless, the campaign reported a significant fundraising boost in the final stretch of the Senate race.
