Michigan Dem Haley Stevens Endorses GOP Mike Rogers in Final Days of Midterms

Haley Stevens, the Michigan Democrat who lost her party's Senate primary, endorsed Republican nominee Mike Rogers on Sunday morning. The move signals a sharp break between Stevens and the party's chosen candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, just days before the general election.

Stevens announced her support while preparing to appear at a church event with Rogers. Her endorsement follows a week of escalating tension between the two former rivals. The split began when Stevens' fiancé, Jason Turkish, a Jewish Democrat, publicly backed Rogers. Stevens initially maintained her support for El-Sayed and planned to join him at a unity event.

The relationship deteriorated on Friday. Stevens urged El-Sayed to forcefully condemn an outside ad criticizing U.S. aid to Israel. El-Sayed said he disagreed with the ad's content. His campaign then told Stevens to stay away from its events, according to a person familiar with the matter. Stevens tweeted her endorsement of Rogers on Sunday.

This endorsement is the latest development in a midterm season filled with unusual distractions. In Alaska, the campaign of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola has faced scrutiny over a report that it recruited another Dan Sullivan for the ballot. The goal appeared to be confusing voters intending to choose Senator Dan Sullivan. Peltola said she knew nothing about the other candidate and is not interested in tricking voters. She called the story another distraction from affordability.

In Ohio, Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy ran an ad featuring Democrat Amy Acton's mother criticizing her. Acton said she has had no contact with her mother since age 12. That was around the time her mother's new husband was indicted for allegedly sexually abusing Acton. The Ramaswamy campaign discontinued the ad after spending a fraction of the initially announced budget.

Republicans also seized on a comment by former President Barack Obama. He joked that Donald Trump has the White House looking like a Cheesecake Factory opened by Saddam Hussein. The GOP framed the quip as Obama talking down to fans of the restaurant chain.

President Trump continues to comment on candidates' physiques. He has repeatedly praised the appearance of Ohio Senator Jon Husted. He also previously insulted Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton's appearance. Vice President JD Vance joked about Husted's appearance during a Fox News town hall on Thursday night. He made the comment before answering a question about affordability.

In other races, intra-party conflicts are prominent. In South Carolina, Republican Representative Ralph Norman is criticizing his party's candidate, Senator Darline Graham. He says voters deserve better and highlights her lack of experience. In New Hampshire, former Governor Chris Sununu joked that Republicans would be up by 30 points if voters confused him with his brother, former Senator John E. Sununu. John E. Sununu responded that he loves his brother but that he is totally wrong.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made claims about the achievements of the world's 500 million Arabs. These comments added to the GOP's focus on Abdul El-Sayed.

Many voters have already cast their ballots. The vast majority of Americans have likely formed their opinions. These late developments may or may not shift the outcome in specific races.