“We are shocked and heartbroken by Congresswoman Stevens’ decision to support Mike Rogers,” German said. Other staff members were expected to resign as well.

When asked about Stevens’ endorsement, El-Sayed dismissed its significance. “At the end of the day I actually don’t think about Haley Stevens,” he said. “None of this matters.” El-Sayed, a former public health official, is running in a tight race against Rogers for the retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters’ seat.

The feud between Stevens and El-Sayed had been building for months, particularly over their differing views on Israel. Stevens is a staunch supporter of Israel, while El-Sayed has been a vocal critic. Tensions escalated after a campaign advertisement from an outside group that Stevens believed was critical of Israel and supportive of El-Sayed led to a public exchange of criticism between the two candidates.

Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, condemned Stevens’ endorsement as a “despicable betrayal.” The Michigan Democratic Party chair, Curtis Hertel, said Stevens’ decision “shows that she has abandoned everything she claims to care about.” Meanwhile, El-Sayed continued to campaign with prominent Democrats like Rep. Debbie Dingell and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks.

On Sunday, Stevens attended a church service with Rogers, while El-Sayed was at a different church with fellow Democrats. Rep. Dingell, who had organized the joint appearance, said the event had become “way too distracting.” She said she had asked Stevens not to attend and believed she would comply.

Voters in Detroit expressed disappointment and confusion over Stevens’ endorsement. Summer Lawrence, a 21-year-old student, called it a “betrayal of the party,” while another voter, Matthew Barera, speculated that Stevens may have acted out of frustration or revenge. Rogers supporters dismissed the move as a political stunt.

The Michigan Senate race is one of the most closely watched in the 2026 midterm elections, with control of the Senate hanging in the balance.