Haley Stevens Solves Democratic Unity By Endorsing The Republican

Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan’s Senate seat on Sunday, after being asked to stay away from Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s remaining campaign events. She appeared with Rogers at a Detroit church. A hoped-for appearance with her own party’s nominee had turned into an endorsement of the person he is trying to beat.

That is not a failed seating arrangement. That is taking your place card to the enemy banquet and asking whether it comes with parking.

Stevens narrowly lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed in August. She had since said she supported the Democratic ticket. On Sunday, she said El-Sayed had told her she was no longer welcome in his campaign, added that he was right, and announced her support for Rogers.

There is a tremendous amount of travel packed into that “right.” You might expect it to lead to staying home, issuing a statement, perhaps turning off your phone. Instead it has a connecting flight to the Republican nominee.

The immediate dispute involved an outside group’s advertisement connecting military aid to Israel with grocery prices. Stevens called it antisemitic and demanded that El-Sayed condemn it. He says he did not make the ad and disagrees with its contents. He also accused her of relitigating the primary. The advertisement was not his campaign’s work; the disagreement over it was quite capable of producing its own campaign consequences.

And who was ready with a compliment? Rogers, who praised Stevens on Friday as courageous and said she had conducted herself with class since the primary.

Of course he did. If your opponent’s former rival approaches carrying a sizeable argument, you do not make her check it at the door. You offer a trolley. Can we help with that? Looks heavy. Shall we put the Democratic disagreement somewhere the cameras can see it?

I’m imagining the Republican campaign’s endorsement intake. Relevant experience? Democratic congresswoman. Familiar with our opponent? Intensely. Previous position? Supporting the Democratic ticket. Excellent. We particularly value applicants willing to make a dramatic career adjustment this close to a deadline.

Stevens is entitled to make her case. Nobody’s primary vote purchases a lifetime lease on her opinions. But voters are also entitled to notice the distance between not getting along with your nominee and actively helping elect the other party’s candidate. Those are not adjoining settings on a thermostat. One is an argument about the temperature; the other calls a different company to remove the furnace.

Meanwhile, Chuck Schumer and Debbie Dingell reiterated their support for El-Sayed. Schumer said Senate Democrats were united behind him. Dingell urged attention to affordability and electing Democrats, including El-Sayed, rather than Stevens’ efforts to get attention.

So the party has not collectively abandoned its nominee. It has reached the more specialized condition in which leaders must explain that supporting the Democratic Senate candidate remains the Democratic position.

Put it on the volunteer handout. Under the polling-place address. Above the reminder to bring water. Yes, the candidate we nominated is still the one we are trying to elect. If a Democratic member of Congress tells you otherwise, please consult the large letter beside the Republican’s name.

Jesus Christ. There are people out knocking on doors, and now they need a supplementary chart explaining which Democrats are delivering Republicans.

The useful thing for Rogers is that the endorsement arrives already wearing an opposition label. He does not have to persuade voters that a Democrat likes him. A Democrat is doing that bit herself.

For the next campaign appearance, perhaps retire the little “Hello, my name is” stickers.

Use “Hello, the person I am helping elect is.”

Apparently we need the extra fucking field.