Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens is facing a fierce backlash from her own party, and some of her fellow House Democrats now want her kicked out of their caucus altogether.
The fury erupted after Stevens, a Democrat, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race on Sunday, Nov. 1, just two days before Tuesday’s midterm elections. Stevens lost the Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, who is now the party’s nominee. She appeared alongside Rogers at Perfecting Church in Detroit before backing him.
“A terrible decision”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not mince words. “Haley Stevens made a terrible decision, blindsided everyone and isolated herself from the House Democratic caucus. We will have a discussion about appropriate next steps upon our return,” Jeffries told Politico.
Several rank-and-file Democrats have gone further. Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas, who had supported Stevens in the primary, told Politico, “I’d be the first to make the motion to remove her.” Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington also said she supports removal, according to Politico. Rep. Emily Randall of Washington told Axios, “I’d support that,” and Rep. Lateefah Simon of California told Axios, “I hope she doesn’t return to work on Tuesday.”
Stevens was also removed from several House Democratic member text chains, a senior House Democrat told Axios.
The rule she may have broken
According to CNN, Democrats pushing for her removal point to a caucus rule saying members “shall not participate in campaign activities for any candidate in a partisan federal election who is not a Member of the Democratic Party.” The same rulebook allows Democrats to expel a member from the caucus if two-thirds of their colleagues vote in favor.
No formal motion or vote has been announced. CNN reported it isn’t yet certain Stevens will be ousted when Democrats reconvene next week, and that the decision may depend on how the Michigan Senate race turns out and on whether Democrats need her vote in the narrowly divided House during the lame-duck session.
Not everyone wants a fight right now
Rep. Debbie Dingell, a senior Michigan Democrat, argued against discussing punishment before Election Day. “I think we shouldn’t be discussing [this] and focus on Tuesday for this time,” she told Politico. Dingell also said on CNN that Stevens had reassured her “multiple times” over the weekend that she would not endorse Rogers. “I don’t know what changed between late Saturday and Sunday morning,” Dingell said.
Others noted that the fight may be short-lived either way. Stevens is leaving Congress at the end of the year, and one House Democrat told Axios the caucus “might still need her vote in the final two months before she’s gone.”
Cut off at home, too
The backlash has also reached Michigan. State Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel wrote on X that Stevens “is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future,” according to Fox News.
Why it matters
Michigan’s Senate race is one of the contests that could decide control of the Senate, where Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, Reuters reported. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to flip the chamber. With voters heading to the polls Tuesday, Democrats are trying to contain the rift before it costs them a critical seat.