Stevens attended a Detroit church service with Rogers on Sunday morning and backed him after losing the August Democratic primary to El-Sayed by less than 1 percentage point. The rift escalated after Stevens’ fiance, Jason Turkish, announced Wednesday he would vote for Rogers, and Stevens conditioned a planned Sunday unity appearance with El-Sayed and Rep. Jim Clyburn on El-Sayed apologizing for his past Israel remarks, pulling an ad featuring clips of Tucker Carlson, and condemning a Rebellion PAC ad that blamed US aid to Israel for grocery prices. After El-Sayed accused Stevens of “relitigating a primary that ended three months ago” and his campaign asked her to stay away from its events, Stevens called Rogers on Sunday morning to join him at church.

The endorsement triggered the resignation of more than half of Stevens’ congressional staff, including Chief of Staff Justin German and Communications Director Logan Basch, while Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel permanently revoked her state party membership and cut off her access to the party’s voter database. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the move “a despicable betrayal” and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it “horrific,” while President Donald Trump praised Stevens’ “bravery” and invited her to join the Republican Party. Following the announcement, El-Sayed’s campaign reported raising $1.2 million in four hours, while Rogers’ win probability on Kalshi rose from 23% to 33%.