Republicans get boost from Michigan Democrat's endorsement, face legal setback in Alaska

Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers in Senate Race

Control of the United States Congress hangs in the balance as a prominent Michigan Democrat has crossed party lines, delivering an unexpected endorsement to Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers just two days before midterm elections. US Representative Haley Stevens, who lost the fiercely contested Michigan Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, appeared alongside Rogers at a Detroit church on Sunday.

Stevens explained her decision in a social media video, stating plainly, “I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign.” Her appearance with Rogers followed the unravelling of a scheduled joint unity event with El-Sayed. The split materialized after Stevens publicly demanded that El-Sayed condemn an outside political advertisement that she argued blamed Israel for high grocery prices. “That ad was very painful,” Stevens told CNN on Sunday night, adding that many voters are being effectively told they do not belong in the party’s current campaign.

Fallout and Fundraising in the Michigan Battleground

The endorsement immediately rippled through both campaigns. Rogers praised Stevens for political courage, telling reporters that parts of the Democratic party had veered into dangerous territory regarding their rhetoric. Meanwhile, the political backlash within Democratic ranks was swift. According to reports from CNN and the Hill, several of Stevens’ congressional staff resigned over the endorsement, while some voters expressed disdain.

A New York Times/Siena poll released on Sunday showed El-Sayed holding a 53% to 42% lead over Rogers. Furthermore, El-Sayed’s campaign reported raising $1.2 million in the four hours immediately following Stevens’ announcement, marking its second-highest fundraising haul since the August primary.

“This race was never about me,” El-Sayed told MS NOW on Sunday, declining to directly address the endorsement. “It was never even about Mike Rogers. It’s certainly not about Haley Stevens. This race is about the people in the state of Michigan.”

Legal Defeat for the Trump Administration in Alaska

Also on Sunday, the Trump administration’s attempt to intervene in Alaska’s Senate race faltered when a federal judge dismissed the US Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking to block certification of the results if Republican incumbent Senator Dan S.

Reports from the New York Times previously revealed that Peltola’s campaign was involved in recruiting Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. into the contest as a spoiler.

National Stakes as Early Voting Hits Record Highs

Across the country, thirty-five Senate seats and all 435 House seats are on the ballot. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers. Polls show Democrats are favored to win a majority of the House and are locked in a tight battle for control of the Senate. A shift in congressional control would grant Democrats the legislative power to block the White House agenda for the final two years of the term and initiate sweeping investigations.

The US President is doing one final election campaign event at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Photo: AP PHOTO — Photo: queanbeyanage.com.au

Voter turnout has shattered historical benchmarks for a midterm cycle. Data from the University of Florida’s Election Lab shows that more than 52 million Americans have already cast their ballots either in person or by mail, surpassing the nearly 46 million early votes recorded ahead of election day in 2022.