Stevens Endorses Rogers After AOC Tries to Keep Her With Democrats
Published November 2, 2026. The endorsement followed weeks of tension between Stevens and Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated her in the primary. Stevens had criticized his comments and campaign materials, including an advertisement she said linked support for Israel to higher grocery prices. El-Sayed’s campaign had asked her not to attend its remaining events, saying their public dispute was becoming a distraction.
Ocasio-Cortez spoke with Stevens on October 28, as Democratic lawmakers sought to dissuade her from backing Rogers. In messages afterward, Stevens thanked Ocasio-Cortez for listening, and the two exchanged warm replies. Stevens also assured other Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, that she would remain with El-Sayed, Raskin said.
Stevens had publicly complained that Ocasio-Cortez held a Michigan campaign event without inviting her. “It’s starting to feel like AOC comes in and it’s exclusive,” she told Politico. Stevens had narrowly lost the primary to El-Sayed and initially endorsed him.
On November 1, Stevens appeared with Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit and announced her endorsement. She said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign. Stevens also said she did not stand with Hasan Piker, a progressive streamer whose association with El-Sayed had drawn her criticism. Members of Stevens’ congressional staff resigned in protest, while Rogers welcomed her support. Donald Trump praised the endorsement and said he would welcome Stevens into the Republican Party.
Stevens’ Rogers Endorsement Exposes Democrats’ Costly Internal Rift
Stevens’ decision to back Rogers, rather than the Democratic nominee who defeated her in the primary, turned a party dispute into a public break just before Michigan’s Senate election. The endorsement came after Ocasio-Cortez spent 25 minutes on October 28 trying to address Stevens’ concerns, followed by friendly messages in which Stevens thanked her for listening.
Other Democrats also tried to keep Stevens aligned with El-Sayed. Rep. Jamie Raskin said Stevens assured him she would celebrate with Democrats on election night. She had also told party figures she remained committed to the nominee, but on November 1 stood beside Rogers at Detroit’s Perfecting Church and endorsed him.
Stevens had complained that Ocasio-Cortez held a Michigan campaign event without inviting her, saying the party was beginning to feel exclusive. Her break with El-Sayed also followed disputes over his comments and campaign materials, including an ad she described as antisemitic. El-Sayed’s campaign had asked her to stay away from its remaining events, saying their feud was becoming a distraction.
The result was a damaging public split that Republicans welcomed: Rogers praised Stevens’ support, and Donald Trump said he would like her to join the Republican Party. Members of Stevens’ congressional staff resigned in protest.
Democratic Infighting Hands Rogers a High-Profile Endorsement
A Democratic effort to contain its own divisions failed spectacularly when Stevens appeared with Rogers at a Detroit church and endorsed him on November 1. The former primary rival of El-Sayed had been urged by Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats to stay with the party’s nominee, but their outreach did not prevent the break.
Ocasio-Cortez spoke with Stevens for 25 minutes on October 28. Their follow-up messages sounded friendly, and Stevens thanked her for hearing her out. Stevens also reassured Rep. Jamie Raskin and other Democrats that she would stick with El-Sayed, before reversing course and backing Rogers.
The dispute reflects the strained relationship between Stevens and El-Sayed. She objected to his remarks and campaign materials, including an advertisement she said tied support for Israel to grocery prices. His campaign asked her not to attend its remaining events, saying their public conflict had become a distraction. Stevens had also complained that Ocasio-Cortez’s Michigan event excluded her.
Rogers welcomed the endorsement, while Donald Trump praised it and said he would like Stevens to join the Republican Party. The episode leaves Democrats publicly divided in a closely watched Senate contest, while members of Stevens’ congressional staff resigned in protest.
Reported by The Daily Wire, The New Republic, Daily Mail US, Twitchy, Newsweek.
