Haley Stevens struggled to explain her abrupt decision to endorse Republican Mike Rogers during a tense CNN interview with Anderson Cooper on Sunday night.
Stevens, who lost Michigan’s Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed in August, insisted her decision was “rock solid” even though she had told fellow Democrats only hours earlier that she would not support Rogers.
The dramatic reversal triggered outrage throughout the Democratic Party. Senior lawmakers condemned Stevens, members of her staff resigned and President Donald Trump celebrated her decision.
But when Cooper asked what had changed, Stevens repeatedly pointed to complaints about El-Sayed’s conduct without naming a clear event that prompted her sudden switch.
“Well, look, this is just a weight off my shoulders, okay?” she said. “Abdul has been getting angrier and angrier. I was trying to help and I endorsed him.”
Cooper noted that Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell had spoken with Stevens the night before and believed Stevens had no plans to endorse Rogers.
“What changed between then and this morning?” he asked.
Stevens said she had simply taken time to reflect on the election.
Haley Stevens appeared on CNN after stunning Democrats by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers over her party’s Senate nominee, Abdul El-Sayed
Anderson Cooper pressed Stevens during a tense live interview as she struggled to explain her overnight reversal and decision to back Rogers
Stevens smiles alongside Rogers after publicly supporting him in a dramatic election-eve break with Democrats that sparked outrage across her party
“I woke up this morning clear-eyed, fresh and focused on what was in my heart, and that’s that,” she said.
“Did you talk to anybody? Did you have a long night of the soul? Were you up all night? Did you have a dream? What happened?” Cooper pressed.
Stevens replied that she had spent time alone with her thoughts and written things down. She again accused El-Sayed of becoming increasingly angry.
Cooper pointed out that El-Sayed had not suddenly become more angry between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
“So, I mean, something changed your mind,” he said.
The uncomfortable exchange came only hours after Stevens appeared with Rogers at Detroit’s Perfecting Church. She had abandoned plans to campaign with El-Sayed and prominent Democrats, including Congressman Jim Clyburn.
Stevens had been disinvited from the Democratic event during a bitter dispute over an outside group’s advertisement linking American support for Israel to the rising cost of living.
El-Sayed publicly distanced himself from the advertisement on Saturday, a response Stevens initially welcomed.
Abdul El-Sayed said he remained focused on voters rather than the political fallout
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks at a campaign rally in Detroit on Sunday
By Sunday morning, however, she was backing his Republican opponent.
Cooper repeatedly asked whether being excluded from the church event had driven her decision, but Stevens declined to describe it as the decisive factor.
“Anderson, my mind is made up. I’m rock solid. I’m an independent woman. I made my decision,” she said.
The CNN anchor then cited an August social media post in which Stevens warned that Rogers would be another supporter of Trump’s agenda.
“We can’t afford to give MAGA another Senate seat in November,” Stevens had written.
“Why can you afford now to give MAGA another Senate seat in November?” Cooper asked.
Rather than answer directly, Stevens returned to her criticism of El-Sayed and accused him of bringing anger into the Democratic Party.
As Cooper continued to seek a clear explanation, Stevens appeared increasingly frustrated.
“It sounds like you’re upset with me too, Anderson,” she said.
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., speaks alongside Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers after a church service at Perfecting Church in Detroit on Sunday
Donald Trump praised Stevens’ decision to support Mike Rogers, calling the move “a thing of bravery”
“No, I’m not,” Cooper replied. “You’re not really answering any of my questions, so it’s somewhat frustrating.”
The interview became still more awkward when Cooper again questioned the timing of her decision and Stevens responded: “Was that a question, Anderson?”
“No. I wanted to see if you wanted to fill in the silence, but you don’t,” Cooper shot back.
Stevens also criticized El-Sayed’s appearances with controversial streamer Hasan Piker and raised questions about some of his political associations, while insisting she remained a proud Democrat.
Cooper countered that those controversies had existed before Stevens abruptly withdrew her support and endorsed Rogers.
The political consequences were immediate. Stevens’ longtime chief of staff resigned after her endorsement of Rogers, while other aides reportedly followed.
“We are shocked and heartbroken,” her chief of staff said in a statement.
When asked about the staff departures, Stevens said her congressional office was already winding down and that her employees were entitled to hold their own views.
Dingell, appearing on CNN immediately after Stevens, called the exchange “one of the most painful interviews I have watched”
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Michigan, speaks alongside Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers after a church service at Perfecting Church on Sunday
Haley Stevens stunned fellow Democrats by appearing with Republican Mike Rogers at a Detroit-area church service, months after warning he would be another “rubber stamp” for Trump
Dingell appeared on CNN immediately after Stevens and described the exchange as “one of the most painful interviews I have watched.” She also said she had been concerned about her fellow congresswoman throughout the previous week.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who supported Stevens during the primary, condemned the endorsement as “a despicable betrayal.”
Michigan Democratic Party chairman Curtis Hertel accused Stevens of abandoning everything she had claimed to believe in and said she would no longer have a place in the party.
El-Sayed, meanwhile, played down the controversy as he campaigned alongside fellow Democrats.
“At the end of the day, I actually don’t think about Haley Stevens,” he told reporters. “None of this matters.”
Republicans welcomed the unexpected defection. President Trump praised Stevens on Truth Social as a “Highly Respected Democrat” and described her decision as an act of “bravery.”
Rogers, who appeared alongside Stevens and his wife, Kristi, at the church, said he was “honored” to receive her endorsement.
Stevens nevertheless maintained that she still supported Democrats in other races and had no plans to abandon the party entirely.
“I’m not turning my back on Democrats,” she told reporters Sunday.
“It is this one vote.”
