Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently stated that Representative Haley Stevens has been with the Republicans since Congress returned. This comment arrived after Stevens chose to endorse Mike Rogers, a Republican, during the midterm elections. Ocasio-Cortez shared her perspective during an appearance on The Don Lemon Show that aired Thursday, The Hill reports. She described the situation as “just the epitome of a certain kind of transactional politics.” She also noted, “It is really sad.” The political fallout for Stevens began when she decided to back Rogers in the competitive Michigan Senate race. This move followed a public disagreement between Stevens and Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed. The tension started when a political advertisement linked Israel to high grocery prices in the United States. Stevens released a statement claiming that the incoming Michigan senator did not condemn the advertisement forcefully enough. El-Sayed eventually won the race by more than 7 points El-Sayed’s victory was part of a broader trend of Democratic success during the midterms. The party managed to flip seats previously held by the GOP in states like Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Maine, and Iowa. When asked about the endorsement switch from Stevens, El-Sayed told reporters, “At the end of the day, I actually don’t think about Haley Stevens.” AOC says Haley Stevens has been with the Republicans ever since she’s come back and calls her endorsement of Mike Rogers the epitome of transactional politics:⁰“This isn’t just about endorsing a Republican, this is about voting against every woman’s right to choose. This is…— It's politics (@uspolitics1111) November 13, 2026 The decision by Stevens led to significant internal friction within her own team and the Democratic Party. Multiple members of her staff resigned in the wake of the endorsement. Stevens has defended her actions on several occasions, even after the midterm results were finalized. She stated that her beliefs were never measured by who would win at the ballot box. Stevens also mentioned that she understands her choices have consequences. While she told the public she does not regret the decision, she expressed that she is truly sorry that it upset some of her colleagues and people she cares about personally. Ocasio-Cortez expanded on her criticism during the interview. She claimed that the situation is about more than just endorsing a Republican. She characterized the move as a betrayal. She also suggested that the events validated those who supported the candidacy of El-Sayed during the primary instead of backing someone like Stevens. Despite the intense pressure and the resignation of her staff members, Stevens remains in her position. Nancy Pelosi offered some guidance to her colleagues on Tuesday regarding the future of the caucus. Pelosi advised against removing Stevens from the House Democratic Caucus before the 120th Congress begins.