In what might be a not-so-stunning, but incredibly disappointing turn of events, Rep. Haley Stevens has rescinded her endorsement of her Democratic primary opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, and instead opted to support former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for Senate in Michigan. Stevens appeared alongside Rogers during both a Sunday service at a Detroit megachurch and at a post-church press scrum, telling reporters she plans on voting for Mike Rogers on Tuesday.

This decision from Stevens is nothing less than infuriating, traitorous, and distracting. As Michiganders begin to head to the polls, it is important voters know Rogers stands for the directionless war in Iran, reckless tariffs, and sky-high gas prices. This is not what Haley Stevens stood for during this summer’s overly contentious primary. In fact, it is roughly the opposite.

During that contentious primary, I supported Mallory McMorrow (and I still believe McMorrow would have been the strongest nominee). The Oakland County state senator seemed to be on a glide path to Democratic stardom, delivering a fiery albeit somewhat cheesy speech at the 2024 party convention and releasing a slew of snappy, well-edited ads that touched on how the Sunday football experience had been swallowed by corporate greed. Unfortunately, McMorrow failed to overcome a summer slump in the polls, dropping out of the race in July. With her absence, the contest between two warring factions of the Democratic Party became unnecessarily nasty and divisive. Even though the moderate Haley Stevens and progressive Abdul El-Sayed disagreed on certain issues, they both agreed Trump sycophant Mike Rogers had no place representing Michigan in Washington. Take it from Stevens herself: Mike Rogers is “corrupt, a Trump crony, and anti-worker.”

But obviously that sentiment has changed. Stevens has betrayed everything she says she believed in for what appears to be a petty act of revenge, sending her own party into a frenzy days before the pivotal election. Stevens’ endorsement comes less than 24 hours after reassuring her congressional colleagues she was supporting El-Sayed. Stevens also reportedly sent former president Barack Obama, her ex-boss, faux endorser, and a beloved figure within Michigan Democratic circles, to voicemail after news broke of a possible rift between Stevens and El-Sayed.

When Barack Obama calls, you pick up the phone.

Stevens’ actions are indefensible. She is practicing the very self-over-party politics Democrats must firmly reject. Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee, chosen by the party’s voters. Unlike Mike Rogers, he will stand up to Donald Trump. El-Sayed is the candidate Democrats from across the Great Lakes State must come together to support.

It is also silly to believe that all Democrats must be in agreement on every single issue. To claw back power from Republicans, Democrats must cast a wide net and build a broad coalition that can deliver a forceful defense of American democracy. I am reminded of former New York City mayor Ed Koch’s quote: ‘If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.’

El-Sayed is the nominee in Michigan, and it is perfectly fine that I do not agree with him on everything. On healthcare, I think we should pursue a public option—still a form of universal coverage—instead of El-Sayed’s preferred Medicare for All. I also think El-Sayed’s past association with Hasan Piker is troubling. But El-Sayed is on our ‘team.’ He is an important player in the Democrats’ quest to flip the Senate. In Washington, he will be a reliable vote against the president’s dangerous agenda that spews hate, including antisemitism. He will back much-needed oversight of the Trump administration. He will vote against Republicans’ attempts to pack the courts with anti-choice judges.

Mike Rogers will do none of that. Ignore his folksy campaign rhetoric and instead look at his record in Congress. He voted against the Affordable Care Act, pushed to slash Medicaid funding, supported abortion bans, and refused to back compensation efforts for 9/11 first responders. That is exactly why Michiganders must support El-Sayed on Tuesday. This election is too important to sow division. We cannot be distracted by Stevens’ personal grievances or attention-seeking distractions. In Michigan, the choice is clear: Abdul El-Sayed is on the team, Mike Rogers is not.

Photo credit: Jose Juarez/The Associated Press.