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Left-wing allies of Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed erupted Sunday after the stunning decision by Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens to endorse his Republican rival Mike Rogers.
Stevens, who narrowly lost in the Democratic primary to El-Sayed, has been critical of his unwillingness to condemn the overt antisemitism of some of his supporters. After recent barbs between the two, El-Sayed disinvited her from a campaign event meant to showcase party unity in the critical Senate race, before she then endorsed his GOP opponent in a surprising last-second decision.
Far-left streamer Hasan Piker attacked her motives in a post to X, claiming she was “weirdly obsessed with Israel.”
“haley stevens is not the spokesperson for democrats, she’s not the spox for jewish people or black people,” Piker said on X. “she’s a self interested striver who’s weirdly obsessed with israel and has been paid handsomely for this strange obsession. this race is about solving the affordability crisis, defending democracy, fighting back against the racialized violence all communities have faced since trump came into power and serving michigan. haley and mike rogers serve trump, and trump serves the epstein class. the choice is clear.”
DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS ENDORSES GOP SENATE NOMINEE MIKE ROGERS AT DETROIT CHURCH
“She’s clearly a disturbed, deranged, dishonest woman (less than 48 hours ago she was swearing to the NYT she was backing Abdul),” Zeteo News’ editor-in-chief Mehdi Hasan also said on X, going on to attack the Democratic establishment for putting forward a “complete traitor.”
In another post agreeing with Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen accusing Stevens of being used as a “tool” for “racism and religious bigotry,” Hasan said “Islamophobia” was “at the core” of her endorsement.
Hasan also questioned Democratic leaders’ support for Stevens, writing, “She’s evil.”
Former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg also attacked Stevens and urged Democrats to denounce the congresswoman, who has said she remains a proud Democrat.
“If you supported Haley Stevens now is your time to speak out, denounce her as the Republican she is and apologize for supporting a traitor,” Hogg wrote.
ABDUL EL-SAYED PLAYS DOWN HASAN PIKER TIES AFTER STREAMER’S VIRAL ANTISEMITISM FIRESTORM
The endorsement followed a controversial ad put up by Rebellion PAC, founded by The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur, in support of El-Sayed’s campaign. The ad depicted grocery shoppers blaming U.S. military support for Israel for high grocery prices. Stevens called the ad antisemitic and demanded El-Sayed condemn it. His campaign said it was not affiliated with the ad, and he subsequently said he disagreed with its contents.
Uygur defended the Rebellion PAC’s advertisement before the endorsement, disputing claims that it blamed Jewish people for grocery prices. He said the spot concerned Israel and accused reporters of misrepresenting the message.
On Sunday, Uygur claimed Stevens endorsed Rogers because “her only source of power is the Israeli lobby” and “She has no popular support, just AIPAC money.”
Former Obama aides and “Pod Save America” co-hosts Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor also criticized Stevens for backing Rogers.
“So [Stevens] didn’t feel welcome at a political event, so now she doesn’t care if Democrats win the Senate,” Lovett wrote. “She’s against ‘hate’ while supporting one of the most hateful campaigns in memory. She endorsed then unendorsed then endorsed then unendorsed her former rival, who she promised to unite behind, after endlessly repeating (correctly!) that Mike Rogers MUST be defeated. What an incoherent disgrace. Hope this anger drives people to do whatever they can to help [El-Sayed] win.”
Vietor also wrote, “I hope folks will think about the fact that [Stevens] demanded that [El-Sayed] denounce as antisemitic an ad he was not associated with, but is now endorsing a man who called Abdul a terrorist. She is fine with bigotry and racism as long as its against the right people.”
EL-SAYED DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM HASAN PIKER AFTER DISTURBING REMARKS ABOUT JEWISH AMERICANS
El-Sayed previously addressed the ad controversy, saying his campaign did not produce the Rebellion PAC advertisement and that he disagreed with its contents.
“You guys love to play the condemn game. I’ve already been clear that that ad was not made by me, and I do not agree with the contents of that ad,” El-Sayed said in a campaign press gaggle Saturday.
The Republican National Committee welcomed Stevens’ decision. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, RNC spokesman Hunter Lovell said the endorsement demonstrated Rogers’ appeal beyond Republican voters.
“When Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who ran against Abdul El-Sayed and knows him better than anyone, stands with Mike Rogers, Michigan should take notice,” Lovell said. “Democrats who feel Abdul has abandoned them have a home with Mike, who is building a winning coalition of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans to save Michigan from El-Sayed’s radical, terrorist-sympathizing agenda. The center of Michigan politics has moved, and Abdul is on the wrong side of it.”
ROGERS WARNS MICHIGAN VOTERS AGAINST EL-SAYED’S ‘EXTREME’ AGENDA AHEAD OF ELECTION
Journalist Sam Robinson asked Stevenson Sunday how she could support a candidate whose positions directly opposed hers.
“Nothing is perfect,” Stevens said.
The video shows a heckler interrupting Robinson, ending the exchange.
“Stevens is a traitor,” the heckler said.
Stevens’ fiancé, Jason Turkish, and former campaign chairman David Kramer had already decided to vote for Rogers, Fox News Digital reported.
Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News’ Amanda Macias contributed to this report.
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