Trump invites Rep. Haley Stevens to join GOP after she backs Rogers in Michigan

President Donald Trump invited Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens on Sunday to join the Republican Party. Stevens had just switched her U.S. Senate endorsement to Republican Mike Rogers, over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed ¹.

Trump spoke at a rally in Dubuque, Iowa. He called Stevens' decision brave and said he has never met her ¹.

On tapeLiveNOW from FOX · Nov 1

▶4:38

Actually, I think that could happen. Maybe.

Stevens announced the switch earlier in the day alongside Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit, Newsweek reported ¹. Trump added that she showed "great and almost unprecedented loyalty to the great people of Michigan" ¹.

Democrats react

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded on X. He condemned the move ¹.

From Channel GOPEl-Sayed: Trump is on the ballot as Mike RogersAbdul El-Sayed · 1.7K plays · captioned, with the source named

The turn is sharp. Stevens lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed in August and had backed him afterward ¹. On Wednesday she told CNN she still wanted him to win, according to a report by The National News Desk. She said then: "We're a household divided" ².

A feud over Israel

The two Democrats disagree over Israel and its war in Gaza. Stevens is one of the party's more pro-Israel members. El-Sayed is a sharp critic of Israel's government ¹. Stevens represents a Detroit-area district with a significant Jewish population ¹.

On tapeForbes Breaking News · Nov 1

▶1:38

Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, said this week he would vote for Rogers. He cited what he called an escalation in El-Sayed's rhetoric since the primary ². El-Sayed has rejected accusations that his criticism of Israel is antisemitic. He said his "commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own kids" ¹.

On Friday, Stevens criticized El-Sayed in a statement. El-Sayed answered that she was "relitigating a primary that ended three months ago" ¹.

Stevens had been scheduled to appear with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, told The Associated Press she asked Stevens not to come because the feud had become "way too distracting" ¹. Hours later, Stevens was with Rogers ¹.

What happens next

Michigan voters decide the race on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Trump called Michigan "another important election for us" ¹. Neither source says whether Stevens has any plan to leave the Democratic Party. Trump said only that it "could happen. Maybe" ¹.

That matters because a late split inside a party can change how voters see a close race. Democrats who wanted to finish the campaign united now face a public fight over Israel and over loyalty. Republicans are using that fight in the final 48 hours.

The Record

1. Oct 29, 2026Stevens' fiancé Jason Turkish said he would vote for Rogers; Stevens said she still wanted El-Sayed to win ².
2. Nov 1, 2026Stevens endorsed Rogers at a Detroit church; Trump invited her to join the GOP at a Dubuque, Iowa, rally ¹.

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<h2>Trump invites Rep. Haley Stevens to join GOP after she backs Rogers in Michigan</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-invites-rep-haley-stevens-to-join-gop-after-she-backs-rogers-in-michigan">The GOP Files</a> on Sunday, November 1, 2026.</em></p> <p>President Donald Trump invited Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens on Sunday to join the Republican Party. Stevens had just switched her U.S. Senate endorsement to Republican Mike Rogers, over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed .</p> <p>Trump spoke at a rally in Dubuque, Iowa. He called Stevens&#39; decision brave and said he has never met her .</p> <blockquote><p>Actually, I think that could happen. Maybe.</p><p>&mdash; Donald Trump, President, Republican</p></blockquote> <p>Stevens announced the switch earlier in the day alongside Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit, Newsweek reported . Trump added that she showed &quot;great and almost unprecedented loyalty to the great people of Michigan&quot; .</p> <h2>Democrats react</h2> <p>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded on X. He condemned the move .</p> <p>The turn is sharp. Stevens lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed in August and had backed him afterward . On Wednesday she told CNN she still wanted him to win, according to a report by The National News Desk. She said then: &quot;We&#39;re a household divided&quot; .</p> <h2>A feud over Israel</h2> <p>The two Democrats disagree over Israel and its war in Gaza. Stevens is one of the party&#39;s more pro-Israel members. El-Sayed is a sharp critic of Israel&#39;s government . Stevens represents a Detroit-area district with a significant Jewish population .</p> <p>Her fiancé, Jason Turkish, said this week he would vote for Rogers. He cited what he called an escalation in El-Sayed&#39;s rhetoric since the primary . El-Sayed has rejected accusations that his criticism of Israel is antisemitic. He said his &quot;commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own kids&quot; .</p> <p>On Friday, Stevens criticized El-Sayed in a statement. El-Sayed answered that she was &quot;relitigating a primary that ended three months ago&quot; .</p> <p>Stevens had been scheduled to appear with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, told The Associated Press she asked Stevens not to come because the feud had become &quot;way too distracting&quot; . Hours later, Stevens was with Rogers .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Michigan voters decide the race on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Trump called Michigan &quot;another important election for us&quot; . Neither source says whether Stevens has any plan to leave the Democratic Party. Trump said only that it &quot;could happen. Maybe&quot; .</p> <p>That matters because a late split inside a party can change how voters see a close race. Democrats who wanted to finish the campaign united now face a public fight over Israel and over loyalty. Republicans are using that fight in the final 48 hours.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-invites-rep-haley-stevens-to-join-gop-after-she-backs-rogers-in-michigan">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/trump-invites-rep-haley-stevens-to-join-gop-after-she-backs-rogers-in-michigan.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Newsweek, “Trump Invites Haley Stevens to Join GOP After Her Mike Rogers Endorsement” (2026-11-01). newsweek.com/trump-invites-haley-stevens-join-gop-mike-roger
2. WLUK FOX 11 (The National News Desk), “Michigan Democrat on fiancé voting for Republican Mike Rogers: 'We're a household divided'” (2026-10-29). fox11online.com/news/nation-world/michigan-democrat-on-fianc

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