The open crisis caused by Haley Stevens in Michigan escalated this Sunday. After the congresswoman announced her support for Republican Mike Rogers in the Senate race, the president of the state's Democratic Party, Curtis Hertel, has publicly rejected any link between Stevens and the organization.
“Congresswoman Stevens is not currently a member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future,” Hertel has stated. The statement, reported by The Guardian, marks a new step in the clash caused by her backing of the rival of Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated her in the Democratic primaries in August.
Resignations in Stevens's team
The reaction has also reached her professional circle. According to Axios, her chief of staff, Justin German, has announced his resignation and that of other team members. German has expressed his surprise and disappointment at the congresswoman's decision.
Democratic representative Jamie Raskin told the same outlet that Stevens had assured him the night before that she would vote for the Democratic candidates. The change in position has sparked criticism among her fellow lawmakers.
Hertel's statement does not detail an expulsion procedure or when Stevens formally ceased to belong to the state organization. It does contain an explicit rejection of her future incorporation. That distinction avoids attributing institutional consequences to the announcement that it does not explain.
Schumer and Jeffries back El-Sayed
The main Democratic leaders have responded by reaffirming their support for the Senate candidate. Chuck Schumer has condemned Stevens's decision and defended the unity of Democratic senators around El-Sayed.
Hakeem Jeffries has also called for a vote for him, underscoring the importance of Michigan for regaining control of the Upper House. Debbie Dingell, for her part, has called for focusing the campaign on the cost of living and the concerns of citizens.
The reactions paint a more precise situation than that of a general party break: Stevens supports the opponent while the state leadership and prominent national officials close ranks behind their candidate.
A dispute that erupts at the close of the campaign
Stevens had appeared alongside Rogers in a church in Detroit before formalizing her support. The confrontation had been growing over El-Sayed's positions on Israel and over the controversy surrounding an ad from a group outside his campaign.
The congresswoman had planned to participate in an event with her former rival, but in the end she was asked not to attend. The planned show of unity for Sunday ended up being replaced by two opposing images: Stevens with Rogers and El-Sayed accompanied by other Democratic leaders.
The effect on the ballot boxes still cannot be quantified. Rogers gets support that he can use to address dissatisfied Democratic voters. El-Sayed, in turn, receives a show of support from the organization and its national leaders. The pending question is whether the episode will move votes or remain as a controversy of the final stretch of the campaign.