Midterms 2026 · Report · File No. 261102-733
El-Sayed raises $1.2 million in four hours after Stevens endorses Rogers
Rep. Haley Stevens's endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race triggered a fundraising surge for Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a sign the party's internal fight is energizing its base a day before the midterm election.
Every quote in this story (1) was matched word for word against its source. How we work

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed raised $1.2 million in just four hours after his former primary rival, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), endorsed former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) in the Michigan Senate race 1. The surge is El-Sayed's second-best single-day haul since he won the Democratic nomination in August 1. Politico first reported the figures, which The Hill independently confirmed with El-Sayed's campaign 1.
Stevens endorsed Rogers on Sunday, two days before the election, after a bitter public feud with El-Sayed 1. Democrats are trying to hold the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and her backing the Republican nominee could cost the party a crucial seat as it seeks a Senate majority 1.
A joint email and a message about distraction
According to Politico, the Democratic National Committee and El-Sayed sent a joint fundraising email on Sunday evening with the subject line: "Who this election is actually about?" 1 In the email, El-Sayed wrote that some people would love for the last days of this race to be about politicians, and that he would not be distracted 1.
Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in August, had initially endorsed him after her defeat 1. Tensions escalated last week after she demanded he apologize for past comments about Israel and disavow a campaign ad that some critics viewed as antisemitic 1. El-Sayed refused to apologize and made clear Stevens was not welcome at a Sunday campaign event 1.
From Channel GOPEl-Sayed lays out his case against Mike RogersAbdul El-Sayed · 135 plays · captioned, with the source named
At least eight House Democrats have called for Stevens to be removed or otherwise disciplined by party leadership, according to Politico 1. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) criticized her for "supporting a candidate for Senate that is a rubber stamp for [President] Trump's disastrous and dangerous administration." 1
Rogers praised Stevens in a post on X, saying: "Representative Haley Stevens is a courageous leader who deserves the respect of every Michigan voter." 4 Speaking to reporters after appearing with her at a Detroit church on Sunday, Rogers said: "This is more a statement about standing together against hate and the future of this state and this country than it is anything else." 4
El-Sayed told reporters at a press conference outside a rally on Sunday: "At the end of the day, I actually don't think about Haley Stevens." 3 He added: "I'm just less interested in the politics of it all than I am in the policy of it all." 3
That matters because the money is a concrete measure of how the party's base is responding to the defection on the final day of the campaign. The pattern is that a Democratic civil war, at least in this race, is paying off at the till.
The Record
Republish this story on your site or in your newsletter
Any site, blog or newsletter may run this story free of charge. Keep the credit line and its link to the original, do not sell it, and edit only for length or house style (the full terms). Photos carry their own licenses, noted under each photo on this page, so use the text alone unless a credit says otherwise.
Paste it into your editor's HTML view. The one-pixel image at the end tells our newsroom the story ran; it stores no reader data.
Sources
- The Hill, “El-Sayed campaign pulls in $1.2M after Stevens backs Republican Rogers” (2026-11-02). thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6188179-abdul-el-sayed-campaig
- NPR, “Haley Stevens backs Mike Rogers. And, Gulf states brace for potential attack on Iran” (2026-11-02). npr.org/2026/11/02/g-s1-151215/up-first-newsletter-michigan-
- The Guardian, “Democrat Haley Stevens endorses Abdul El-Sayed’s Republican rival Mike Rogers” (2026-11-01). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/01/abdul-el-sayed-haley-ste
- CBS News, “Stevens appears with Rogers amid rift with El-Sayed” (2026-11-01). cbsnews.com/news/haley-stevens-mike-rogers-together-church-a
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
More from the files
Some House Democrats back removing Haley Stevens from caucus after Rogers endorsement
Rep. Jayapal says she supports removing Stevens from the House Democratic Caucus. Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for Senate in Michigan two days before Tuesday's election.
Dingell calls Stevens' CNN defense of Rogers endorsement 'painful' on eve of vote
Rep. Debbie Dingell says Rep. Haley Stevens' endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers is backfiring. The Michigan Senate race could help decide control of the Senate on Tuesday.
Schumer calls Stevens' Rogers endorsement a betrayal as her staff quits before vote
Rep. Haley Stevens' endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers has split Michigan Democrats two days before an election that could decide control of the Senate. Party leaders, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, are standing by Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Delivered free to your door*
The Morning Edition
One short email at 7 a.m. Eastern: the day's top files, one clip worth your time, and the race to watch. Plain English, large type, no clutter.
*Your inbox. Free. Unsubscribe with one click, any time.





