Haley Stevens Gets Standing Ovation at Jewish School Gala After Backing Rogers

Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens received a standing ovation at a Jewish day school fundraising dinner on Sunday, hours after announcing her support for Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers. Her reception at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah contrasted with criticism from Democrats around the country over her break with the party’s nominee, Abdul El-Sayed.

Representatives of Agudath Israel of America, a major Orthodox advocacy organization, posted video on social media showing the applause lasting about a minute. Stevens, a longtime supporter of Israel, has drawn praise from strongly pro-Israel Jews for endorsing Rogers. She attributed her decision partly to concerns about El-Sayed’s past relationship with anti-Israel streamer Hasan Piker.

In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper that evening, Stevens struggled to clarify why she had chosen that moment to endorse Rogers. She repeatedly framed her decision as an effort to help Democrats confront antisemitism within their party. She also referred to her concerns about Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s Nazi tattoo. Platner ultimately withdrew from the nomination.

When Cooper asked whether she considered El-Sayed antisemitic, Stevens said she believed some of his actions had been antisemitic and expressed frustration with his associations. She cited Piker and his uncle, Cenk Uygur, whose political action committee produced an advertisement supporting El-Sayed that blamed Israel for grocery prices.

Stevens had publicly urged El-Sayed to denounce the advertisement’s message. He appeared to do so on Saturday night, prompting a statement of approval from Stevens just hours before she announced her endorsement of Rogers. During the CNN interview, she also said numerous Democrats had privately thanked her and shared her unhappiness with the campaign. Michigan’s Jewish Democrats remain divided: a growing number have pledged support for Rogers, while more than 1,000 have signed a letter committing to vote for El-Sayed.

Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, which operates across several suburban Detroit campuses, is Michigan’s largest Jewish day school. Its annual fundraising gala, called “An Evening of Unity,” regularly attracts prominent political and media figures, generally including representatives of both major parties.

Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear delivered the keynote address at Sunday’s dinner. The program also included personal letters from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Stevens, a regular supporter of the school, received a specially designed illuminated book containing five prophetic scrolls, presented as an expression of appreciation.

School leaders also offered warm wishes to Stevens’ Jewish fiancé, Democratic megadonor Jason Turkish. The event’s emcee called Turkish “our dear friend.” He had endorsed Rogers several days before Stevens announced her own support.