Dingell calls Stevens' CNN defense of Rogers endorsement 'painful' on eve of vote

Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, said Sunday that Rep. Haley Stevens' CNN interview defending her endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers was "one of the most painful interviews I’ve ever watched." Dingell spoke to CNN's Anderson Cooper right after Stevens' appearance. ¹

Stevens endorsed Rogers, a former congressman, over Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Election Day is Tuesday. ¹²

On tapeCNN · Nov 2

▶14:56

What Dingell said

Dingell said she has been worried about Stevens all week. "She’s a human being," Dingell said, adding that she has had multiple conversations with her and is far from the only one who has. ¹

Dingell said the fight is a distraction from voters' worries about the cost of living. She said she is the one who called Stevens and told her it had become a distraction. ¹

From Channel GOPEl-Sayed lays out his case against Mike RogersAbdul El-Sayed · 129 plays · captioned, with the source named

And I think that this is backfiring

Dingell said El-Sayed raised more than $1 million that day. She said she had thought he would win, but she sensed a shift while out among voters that afternoon. "So I think this race is going to be close," she said. ¹

The Stevens interview

In a late-night Saturday conversation, Stevens assured Dingell that she had no plans to endorse Rogers, according to the Detroit News account of the interview. When Cooper pressed her on what changed, she did not answer directly. ²

On tapeFOX 2 Detroit · Nov 2

▶8:28

Look, this is just a weight off my shoulders, OK?

El-Sayed narrowly beat Stevens in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary. He responded to the endorsement by saying "none of this matters," and that he is focused on the state's residents rather than the controversy. ²

Sources close to the matter said El-Sayed asked Stevens not to attend a campaign event with him at a church on Sunday morning. ¹

The fallout in the party

Members of Stevens' staff have resigned, and Michigan Democrats are angry with her. Other Democrats have called the move a "betrayal." ¹

Rep. Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat, called it "insane." She wrote on X that Rogers supports a nationwide abortion ban and that Stevens is no longer a Democrat. ¹

National Republicans, including President Trump, celebrated the endorsement. Trump said he would "love to have" Stevens join the Republican Party. ¹

What happens next

Michigan votes Tuesday. Dingell's remarks suggest even Democrats who back El-Sayed see the closing days as a fight over party unity, not over prices. ¹

Democrats wanted the final days to be about the cost of living and prices, and this feud has taken attention away from both. That is analysis, not something Dingell said. ¹

The Record

1. Aug 4, 2026El-Sayed narrowly beat Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary. ²
2. Oct 31, 2026In a late-night Saturday conversation, Stevens assured Dingell that she had no plans to endorse Rogers, according to the Detroit News account. ²
3. Nov 1, 2026Stevens endorsed Rogers and defended it on CNN. Dingell called the interview 'painful.' ¹²

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<h2>Dingell calls Stevens&#39; CNN defense of Rogers endorsement &#39;painful&#39; on eve of vote</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/dingell-calls-stevens-cnn-defense-of-rogers-endorsement-painful-on-eve-of-vote">The GOP Files</a> on Sunday, November 1, 2026.</em></p> <p>Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, said Sunday that Rep. Haley Stevens&#39; CNN interview defending her endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers was &quot;one of the most painful interviews I’ve ever watched.&quot; Dingell spoke to CNN&#39;s Anderson Cooper right after Stevens&#39; appearance.</p> <p>Stevens endorsed Rogers, a former congressman, over Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Election Day is Tuesday.</p> <h2>What Dingell said</h2> <p>Dingell said she has been worried about Stevens all week. &quot;She’s a human being,&quot; Dingell said, adding that she has had multiple conversations with her and is far from the only one who has.</p> <p>Dingell said the fight is a distraction from voters&#39; worries about the cost of living. She said she is the one who called Stevens and told her it had become a distraction.</p> <blockquote><p>And I think that this is backfiring</p><p>&mdash; Debbie Dingell, U.S. Representative, D-Michigan</p></blockquote> <p>Dingell said El-Sayed raised more than $1 million that day. She said she had thought he would win, but she sensed a shift while out among voters that afternoon. &quot;So I think this race is going to be close,&quot; she said.</p> <h2>The Stevens interview</h2> <p>In a late-night Saturday conversation, Stevens assured Dingell that she had no plans to endorse Rogers, according to the Detroit News account of the interview. When Cooper pressed her on what changed, she did not answer directly.</p> <blockquote><p>Look, this is just a weight off my shoulders, OK?</p><p>&mdash; Haley Stevens, U.S. Representative, D-Michigan</p></blockquote> <p>El-Sayed narrowly beat Stevens in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary. He responded to the endorsement by saying &quot;none of this matters,&quot; and that he is focused on the state&#39;s residents rather than the controversy.</p> <p>Sources close to the matter said El-Sayed asked Stevens not to attend a campaign event with him at a church on Sunday morning.</p> <h2>The fallout in the party</h2> <p>Members of Stevens&#39; staff have resigned, and Michigan Democrats are angry with her. Other Democrats have called the move a &quot;betrayal.&quot;</p> <p>Rep. Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat, called it &quot;insane.&quot; She wrote on X that Rogers supports a nationwide abortion ban and that Stevens is no longer a Democrat.</p> <p>National Republicans, including President Trump, celebrated the endorsement. Trump said he would &quot;love to have&quot; Stevens join the Republican Party.</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Michigan votes Tuesday. Dingell&#39;s remarks suggest even Democrats who back El-Sayed see the closing days as a fight over party unity, not over prices.</p> <p>Democrats wanted the final days to be about the cost of living and prices, and this feud has taken attention away from both. That is analysis, not something Dingell said.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/dingell-calls-stevens-cnn-defense-of-rogers-endorsement-painful-on-eve-of-vote">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/dingell-calls-stevens-cnn-defense-of-rogers-endorsement-painful-on-eve-of-vote.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Hill, “Dingell says Stevens defending Rogers endorsement on CNN was 'one of the most painful interviews I've ever watched'” (2026-11-02). thehill.com/homenews/6187789-debbie-dingell-says-stevens-def
2. Detroit News via Yahoo News, “Anderson Cooper tries to get Haley Stevens to explain moment she flipped” (2026-11-02). yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/anderson-cooper-tries-haley

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