A Sunday church service in Detroit became the backdrop for a political break as Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens appeared alongside Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, then endorsed him over her own party’s nominee.
The Nov. 1 appearance at Perfecting Church came two days before Election Day, following a public dispute between Stevens and Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed over Israel.
“I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today,” Stevens said in a video posted on social media after the service, Breitbart reported.
Stevens lost the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed in August and subsequently endorsed him. A planned Sunday appearance with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., at another Detroit church fell apart as their dispute intensified.
The conflict centered on a Rebellion PAC advertisement linking high grocery prices to U.S. aid to Israel. The outside group is not affiliated with El-Sayed’s campaign.
Stevens demanded that El-Sayed condemn the advertisement. She also accused him of advancing similar arguments through his campaign rhetoric.
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In a statement quoted by MS NOW and Breitbart, Stevens urged him to begin his effort to remove money from politics “by getting Israel out of his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford.”
El-Sayed accused Stevens of seeming “intent on relitigating a primary that ended three months ago,” according to Breitbart. His campaign reportedly told her to stay away from its events.
On Saturday, El-Sayed rejected the advertisement’s message.
“I do not agree with the contents of that ad,” he said, according to Spectrum News.
Stevens welcomed his rejection in a statement. The following day, she attended worship alongside Rogers and announced her support for the Republican.
What Democrats had planned as a Sunday show of unity ended with Stevens backing their opponent. Michigan voters will decide the Senate race Tuesday, Nov. 3.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
