Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) faced criticism from progressive Democrats and a political action committee after she declined to issue a full endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s Senate seat in the upcoming midterm elections. Stevens, who lost the primary to El-Sayed, also condemned an ad from Rebellion PAC that accused her of supporting aid to Israel amid allegations of Palestinian casualties.
Stevens’ remarks on CNN’s State of the Union drew backlash from left-wing activists and commentators, who argued her refusal to explicitly endorse El-Sayed undermined party unity. Meanwhile, Rebellion PAC, founded by Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, released an ad accusing Stevens of supporting U.S. funding for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, a claim she labeled as “fearmongering.”
Part 1: Immediate Action & Core Facts
Rep. Haley Stevens, who ran unsuccessfully for Michigan’s Senate nomination, faced criticism after stating on national television that she supports the Democratic ticket broadly but did not explicitly endorse El-Sayed. Her comments were met with accusations of undermining party unity from progressive figures, including Mehdi Hasan and Leah Greenberg of Indivisible.
Separately, Stevens condemned an ad by Rebellion PAC, which alleged that U.S. taxpayer funds sent to Israel contribute to civilian casualties in Gaza. The PAC, led by Cenk Uygur, posted the ad in support of El-Sayed’s campaign, framing Stevens’ stance on Israel as complicit in violence.
Part 2: Deeper Dive & Context
Progressive Backlash Over Endorsement
Progressive activists and commentators criticized Stevens for not issuing a full-throated endorsement of El-Sayed, a key Democratic candidate in a competitive Senate race. Mehdi Hasan wrote on social media that Stevens’ refusal to fully back El-Sayed contradicted the “blue no matter who” principle, while Leah Greenberg of Indivisible called on Stevens to “stay off television” if she could not provide a full endorsement. Kyle Blomquist, a former congressional candidate, accused Stevens of aligning too closely with establishment figures like Mike Rogers.
Stevens responded by stating she supports the broader Democratic ticket, including gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson and efforts to elect Hakeem Jeffries as House Speaker. She did not directly address El-Sayed’s campaign when pressed.
Rebellion PAC’s Ad and Stevens’ Response
The ad from Rebellion PAC, which supports El-Sayed, accused Stevens of supporting U.S. military aid to Israel, implying American taxpayers fund actions that result in Palestinian casualties. Stevens labeled the ad as “fearmongering” and rejected the characterization of her position. The PAC, founded by Cenk Uygur, has positioned itself as an anti-establishment force within the Democratic Party, often targeting establishment-aligned candidates.
The controversy highlights tensions within the Democratic Party between progressive factions and establishment-backed candidates, particularly on foreign policy issues such as U.S. aid to Israel. Stevens’ primary loss to El-Sayed and her subsequent criticism of his campaign’s tactics underscore the intraparty divisions ahead of the midterms.