Haley Stevens cheered at Jewish day school after endorsing GOP Senate candidate

Michigan Democratic US Rep. Haley Stevens received a standing ovation at a Jewish day school gala after endorsing Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, citing objections to El-Sayed's ties to anti-Israel figures. Stevens said she was helping Democrats fight antisemitism, while over 1,000 Michigan Jewish Democrats signed a letter pledging to vote for El-Sayed.

Michigan Democratic US Rep. Haley Stevens received a minute-long standing ovation at a fundraising gala for Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, a Detroit-area Jewish day school, hours after she endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens, a longtime pro-Israel stalwart, said her decision was partly due to objections to El-Sayed's past relationship with anti-Israel streamer Hasan Piker. In a CNN interview, Stevens struggled to explain the timing but said she was trying to help Democrats beat back antisemitism within their own party. She named Piker and Cenk Uygur, whose PAC produced an ad blaming Israel for grocery prices. El-Sayed appeared to condemn the ad on Saturday night, which Stevens celebrated before endorsing Rogers. A growing number of Michigan Jewish Democrats have pledged to vote for Rogers, though over 1,000 have signed a letter pledging to vote for El-Sayed. The gala also featured Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear as keynote speaker and personal letters from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.