Dingell Calls Stevens Interview Painful After Late Endorsement Shift

The Michigan Senate race entered a volatile phase on Sunday when Rep. Haley Stevens switched her endorsement from Democrat Abdul El-Sayed to Republican Mike Rogers. The move prompted immediate reactions from fellow Democrats who had supported El-Sayed.

Rep. Debbie Dingell appeared on CNN following an interview with Stevens. Dingell said she was surprised to be scheduled immediately after Stevens. She stated that she was concerned about Stevens throughout the previous week.

"First of all, I want to say, I'm not sure I would have done this if I'd known she was going to be on immediately before me," Dingell told Anderson Cooper.

Dingell described the preceding segment as one of the most painful interviews she had ever watched. She noted that she had multiple conversations with Stevens and worried the situation was becoming a distraction.

Stevens had supported El-Sayed until Sunday. In a video recorded from a car, she endorsed Rogers. She said she did not belong in El-Sayed's campaign anymore. She criticized El-Sayed for campaigning with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker.

During her interview with Cooper, Stevens struggled to explain her reasoning. She spoke ambiguously about Piker. She claimed El-Sayed was getting angrier and angrier.

Cooper asked Stevens what changed between a phone call with Dingell around midnight and her morning decision. He asked if she talked to anyone or had a long night of thinking. Stevens disputed the time of the call. She said she just had time to think.

Cooper apologized to Dingell for the scheduling. He said he would never shock someone like that. Dingell said it was painful to watch. She mentioned she had been out all day and her staff informed her of the schedule at the last hour.

Cooper asked Dingell to confirm that Stevens said she would not switch her support. Dingell confirmed Stevens told her multiple times she was not going to do it. Dingell said she was worried about Stevens as a human being.

Dingell added that the situation left her depressed and sad. In a follow-up interview, she said she was stunned by the endorsement. She noted Stevens had told her at midnight she was not doing it.

When asked if the interview might ruin Stevens' political career, Dingell said she seriously hurt herself. Piker later aired Dingell's interview on his stream. He yelled for Dingell to cook Stevens for him.