Michigan Democrats trade Haley Stevens to Mike Rogers' campaign for trustees and a draft pick
The Michigan Senate race feud is settled: Haley Stevens has been dealt to Republican Mike Rogers and will report to his headquarters Wednesday.
Haley Stevens' parking pass stopped working at Michigan Democratic Party headquarters at 9 a.m. Wednesday. By lunch, her name had come off the lobby directory and her leftover yard signs had been wheeled to a loading dock.
The congresswoman had been traded.
The state party confirmed the deal late in the evening. Stevens, who lost the August Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, goes to Republican Mike Rogers' campaign. In return, Democrats receive two township trustees, the drain commissioner of Macomb County and the ninth overall pick in next spring's endorsement draft.1
The swap ends a bruising stretch. Stevens was asked to skip a joint campaign stop with El-Sayed at a Detroit church after a public argument over Israel and an outside group's advertising. Days later, with voters about to head to the polls, she appeared at a different Detroit church alongside Rogers, the Republican nominee.
"We wish Haley well in her new organization," said Marla Quist, a spokeswoman for the state party. "This was fair market value for a sitting member of Congress with moderate name recognition and a working knowledge of Oakland County."
Rogers' campaign said it had scouted Stevens for months. "She becomes available fast and she shows up at churches on short notice," said Dale Brenner, a senior adviser. "That is a skill set you cannot teach."
"She becomes available fast and she shows up at churches on short notice. That is a skill set you cannot teach."
Stevens cleared waivers before the trade, meaning no other state party put in a claim. The transactions committee approved the move on a call that lasted nine minutes.
El-Sayed's camp took the news calmly. "Abdul congratulates the congresswoman and looks forward to facing her new team at the polls," said spokeswoman Priya Nandakumar. She noted that Democrats retained a right of first refusal should Stevens ever lose another primary.
The Detroit church that hosted the Stevens-Rogers appearance has updated its booking policies. Ron Delgado, the facilities manager, said campaigns will now pay a refundable cleaning deposit and clear the sanctuary before evening choir practice. "People kept trying to work the room during the hymns," Delgado said. "The bishop was waving at me from the pulpit."
Stevens reports to Rogers headquarters Wednesday for orientation. The session covers the platform, the talking points and where to park.
Footnotes.
- The drain commissioner is listed in the term sheet as "a culture add with two years of team control remaining." ↩
