I’ve never been a fan of Hayley Stevens. Once Mallory McMorrow left the race I preferred Stevens over El-Sayed primarily because of how dangerous I thought El-Sayed would be if elected but also because I thought Stevens would be a stronger candidate in the General Election with a better chance of beating Mike Rogers. Nothing that has happened has changed my mind about this.
I don’t disagree with Stevens’ ultimate decision to endorse Rogers over El-Sayed although I think the timing – coming just a day after announcing her intent to appear at a “unity” event and promising to vote for him makes it look more like an emotional reaction to being disinvited to the unity event and less like a principled decision.
Rather than reach out to Jews who felt threatened by his anti-Israel rhetoric (as most candidates in a close election would have done) El-Sayed effectively doubled down on his rhetoric refusing to even recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and refusing the opportunity with a soft ball question in a debate to acknowledge that Iran was a greater threat to the US than Israel.
It is wishful thinking among El-Sayed supporters to think that this will somehow help him in the election. Most of the people angriest at Stevens have probably already voted for El-Sayed. It’s hard to imagine a voter who was undecided before now choosing El -Sayed because of what Stevens did. On the other hand I think Steven’s public endorsement of Rogers likely gave “permission” to Democrats who didn’t like El-Sayed but hesitated on the idea of voting for a Republican.
It is hypocritical for Democrats to call Stevens a “traitor” when the same people obviously hail Republicans who announce they are voting against Paxton in Texas as heroes.
Stevens no longer has a future in electoral politics in Michigan. Whatever her motivation, I am certain it wasn’t ambition.
Stevens’ endorsement of Rogers will give El-Sayed supporters someone specific to blame if (when) he loses the election. Inevitably it will be blamed on the Jews who somehow manipulated Stevens into the perfidious betrayal.
Win or lose in the Michigan Senate race, tomorrow marks the beginning of the 2028 Democratic Presidential race. Move over AOC and Ro Khanna. The DSA lane in the race now belongs to AES.
