WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • Former Rep. Hansen Clarke endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate just hours before Michigan voters were set to visit the polls.
  • Clarke joined Rep. Haley Stevens, El-Sayed’s former Democrat primary opponent, in crossing party lines to support Rogers.
  • Clarke cited his experience serving with Rogers in the U.S. House and praised his willingness to work with Democrats.
  • The endorsements handed Rogers a last minute boost while forcing El-Sayed to confront public defections from members of his own party.

Michigan Democrat Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed’s election eve problems deepened Sunday when another former Democrat lawmaker publicly backed Republican Mike Rogers. The endorsement arrived only hours before Michigan voters were set to head to the polls.

El-Sayed entered the closing stretch already facing scrutiny over his positions involving boys in girls’ bathrooms and whether Israel should exist. His agenda has now prompted members of his own party to argue that the Republican is the better choice.

Former Rep. Hansen Clarke of Michigan announced on his Facebook page that he had joined Rep. Haley Stevens in supporting Rogers for the U.S. Senate. Clarke represented MI-13, while Stevens represents MI-11.

The timing delivered an unwelcome surprise to El-Sayed at the worst possible moment. Instead of presenting a united Democrat front, his campaign was confronted with a second public defection just before voters made their decision.

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Clarke also brought something especially valuable to his endorsement. Unlike Stevens, he had served with Rogers in the U.S. House of Representatives and could offer voters his firsthand assessment of the Republican candidate.

“Choi Clarke and I stand with Congresswoman Haley Stevens in supporting Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate.”

Clarke then explained why his previous experience with Rogers mattered. His statement focused on Rogers’ commitment to improving lives, protecting national security, and cooperating with Democrats in Congress.

“I served with Mike in the U.S. House of Representatives. I know that he is committed to improving the quality of our lives, protecting our nation's security, and working with Democrats to get the job done.”

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Clarke’s Facebook post also included a photograph of Clarke and his wife looking happy and at peace with their votes. The image gave the endorsement a personal touch alongside Clarke’s professional evaluation of Rogers.

For El-Sayed, the political sting was obvious. Another former Democrat lawmaker was not merely rejecting his candidacy but personally vouching for the Republican opponent’s character and ability to work with members of both parties.

The endorsement quickly spread across social media. It also ensured that El-Sayed’s closing hours before the vote would be dominated by questions about why prominent Democrats were siding with Rogers.

El-Sayed’s campaign had already been rocked by an increasingly ugly feud with Stevens, his former opponent in the Democrat primary. That fight reached a dramatic point Sunday when Stevens endorsed Rogers rather than the nominee of her own party.

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Stevens’ decision was itself a remarkable break with party loyalty. Clarke joining her made the episode harder for El-Sayed’s campaign to dismiss as one isolated act of rebellion from a former primary opponent.

Clarke’s support suggested that the resistance to El-Sayed extended beyond the personal hostility surrounding the primary contest. His endorsement centered directly on Rogers’ record in Congress and his willingness to work with Democrats.

That distinction made Clarke’s announcement especially damaging. He was not simply expressing frustration with El-Sayed or offering a vague statement against him, but making an affirmative case that Rogers deserved the Senate seat.

For Rogers, the pair of endorsements provided a significant last minute boost in one of the cycle’s most watched races. Two Democrats crossing party lines gave him an opportunity to present himself as the candidate capable of attracting support beyond his Republican base.

For El-Sayed, it was a brutal election eve development. He had to watch members of his own party publicly explain why Michigan voters should choose his Republican opponent, all while the clock ran down toward the opening of the polls.

The race also carries broader consequences for control of Congress during the 2026 midterms. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers to protect President Donald Trump’s America First agenda, making the Michigan contest particularly important.

El-Sayed’s closing pitch was therefore overwhelmed by Democrat defections at precisely the moment his campaign needed unity. Stevens made the first stunning break, and Clarke followed with a personal endorsement grounded in his own congressional service alongside Rogers.

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