Chris Hayes: Haley Stevens’ ‘shocking’ endorsement switch could ‘weirdly’ unite Democrats

Representative Haley Stevens abruptly withdrew her backing of Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan on Sunday and threw her support to Republican Senator Mike Rogers, just before Tuesday's midterms. MS NOW host Chris Hayes called the move bizarre and aberrant, yet argued it has had an unexpected effect: Democrats across the spectrum have rushed to condemn it, which he took as proof that they grasp what is at stake in the election.

Stevens had endorsed El-Sayed after he beat her in the primary. Their relationship deteriorated in recent days over an outside group's advertisement she considered antisemitic, and over El-Sayed's ties to streamer Hasan Piker. Hayes said anyone is free to leave a party over principled disagreement, but faulted how she handled it. Critics included Jonathan Chait and Neera Tanden, both of whom had earlier been on opposite sides of her or harsh toward El-Sayed. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had supported Stevens in the primary, accused her of betraying Michigan families and said El-Sayed must win.

Hayes added that a larger Democratic coalition means more internal fights, including a possible 55-seat Senate majority, but called that the best problem a party could have.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →