Michigan Democrat Congresswoman Haley Stevens has endorsed her rival, the state's Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers, after attending church with him.
Stevens lost in a bitter primary battle to Abdul El-Sayed, the current Senate nominee in Michigan.
But she was seen smiling from ear to ear when she arrived at the Perfecting Church in Detroit on Sunday morning, standing next to Rogers in the service.
The unusual scene comes amid a midterms battle in Michigan that is marred with Democratic infighting. It's understood Stevens was meant to go to church with El-Sayed this morning instead, but those plans did not go ahead.
Wearing a teal colored suit, Stevens strutted into the church and hugged Rogers, before going on to greet other members of the congregation with open arms.
She took her sunglasses off as she stood with the Republican at the door to the mass, and she said that 'Mike is going to take on' her initiative of investing in black businesses.
The startling moment was captured on camera, with both of the politicians sitting next to one another smiling and clapped inside the service.
Just minutes after the church service ended, Stevens took to social media and also held a press conference to announce her formal endorsement.
She said that her own household was 'divided, until last night' when she decided to cast her ballot for the Republican. Stevens noted that El-Sayed made it clear that he did not need her during his ongoing campaign.
Stevens, who also reiterated her unwavering dedication to the Democratic Party, said: 'My vote will be with Mike Rogers. Because we have to stand with country.
'We cannot stand for hate.'
The strained relationship among the Michigan Democrats started when Stevens's fiancé, Jason Turkish, said Wednesday that he would be casting a vote for El-Sayed's opponent, Rogers.
The startling moment was captured on camera, with both of the politicians sitting next to one another smiling and clapped inside the service
The unusual scene comes amid a midterms battle in Michigan that is marred with Democratic infighting
Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers appearing with Democrat U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens at Perfecting Church in Detroit pic.twitter.com/Jxg5cEufV1
— Sam Robinson (@samueljrob) November 1, 2026
Stevens appeared on CNN hours later to reaffirm that she would be voting for El-Sayed, but urged his campaign to 'shut out the hate and call it out.'
On Thursday, the two seemed to make amends and scheduled a Sunday campaign event at a church in Detroit with South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, an influential Democrat seen as a major force in Joe Biden's 2020 primary win.
Stevens then released a social media statement on Friday criticizing El-Sayed and demanding he condemn an ad linking US support for Israel to rising grocery prices.
El-Sayed's campaign has since asked Stevens to stay away from the event, MS NOW reported Saturday.
El-Sayed sidestepped questions from reporters about whether he wanted Stevens to appear with him, saying that she 'wants to talk about other things.'
When directly asked if Stevens was 'trying to rat f***' his campaign, he laughed and said: 'That is not a question for me.'
Rogers said he would welcome Stevens 'to join us at an event or any of our campaign events,' according to MS NOW.
Clyburn adviser Antjuan Seawright said the invitation for Stevens to attend church 'still stands,' the outlet reported.
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