Who should run for the Dems?

[Segnosaur]

Yes, a moderate democrat (Haley Stevens) ended up endorsing a republican. At this point we have no idea exactly what was going through her head, and it may be due to factors that have nothing to do with policy. Its a single data point, and its not enough to conclude "those moderate democrats are basically republicans".

She didn't just 'end up' endorsing a Republican. She had been very vocal about being against everything he stands for and calling a vote for him a vote for Trump, until she incredibly abruptly switched to endorsing him – apparently without even informing her staff and against their wishes:

Which of course does not affect my main argument... that Stevens is a single person who's actions of switching to support the republican (whether it is a simple endorsement or something more) could be done for personal, non-political reasons, and not enough to conclude "all moderate democrats are just like republicans".

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Famous Democrat*:

"If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve."

"Oh, I didn't really mean that!"

Teddy Roosevelt.

 

[dann]

Which of course does not affect my main argument... that Stevens is a single person who's actions of switching to support the republican (whether it is a simple endorsement or something more) could be done for personal, non-political reasons, and not enough to conclude "all moderate democrats are just like republicans".

Nobody concluded that "all moderate democrats are just like republicans."
Please don't use quotations marks when it is not a quotation.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

I fear it is a truism that all moderate democrats want to get along with Republicans, no matter how nutjob they are

 

[dann]

Most moderate Democrats appear to have turned against Haley Stevens. In fact, it seems to have united moderate, progressive and socialist Democrats, which can't have been her intention.
Her own staff:

STAFF EXODUS: Haley Stevens' chief of staff and more resign after Rogers endorsement (MS NOW on YouTube, Nov 2, 2026 – 12:28 min.)
MS NOW political reporter Hunter Woodall joins Way Too Early to discuss the fallout after Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens pulled a shocking reversal and endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race. He breaks down her dispute with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, the reaction from lawmakers, fallout within Stevens’ inner circle, and what the endorsement could mean for a close race.

And many others:

'A despicable betrayal': Democrats incensed sed by Haley Stevens' endorsement of Mike Rogers (TheGuardian, Nov 2, 2026)
Stevens’ decision sparked fierce backlash from members of the party, while Donald Trump praised the sudden switch

Chuck Schumer, of all people, is the one calling it "a despicable betrayal," so not even the Baileys are onboard with her decision.

“Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed, because we know he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan, unlike Mike Rogers, who is a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors,” Schumer posted on social media.
Nancy Pelosi, a California representative, posted that Stevens had “chosen to dangerously betray Michigan families’ healthcare, freedoms and future with her horrific endorsement”.

That Trump invited Hales to get onboard his sinking ship is not a surprise.

 

[shemp]

*cough* big Donors*cough*

AIPAC, as dann already posted.

 

[Donal]

I hope this Temu Tulsi Gabbard tries to run in 2028 as some sort of "sensible, moderate choice" in the dem primary.

 

[ZiprHead]

Yes, a moderate democrat (Haley Stevens) ended up endorsing a republican. At this point we have no idea exactly what was going through her head, and it may be due to factors that have nothing to do with policy. Its a single data point, and its not enough to conclude "those moderate democrats are basically republicans". I suspect there are plenty of other moderate democrats who might not agree with El Sayed on everything but would still support him over Rogers.

Remember, both Krysten Sinema and Fetterman both seemed to have solid left-wing credentials before making some rather... questionable... political positions. (Sinema had at one time been a member of the green party and opposed military action in Afghanistan, but ended up supporting Trump's attacks on Syria. Fetterman was endorsed by Bernie Sanders, but did a video appearance before a republican campaign event.) Sometimes politicians do dumb things.

Biggest political blunder since the '24 presidential election.

El Sayed is up by 11 points over Rogers according to the NYT. In the hours following Stephens' announcement donations to his campaign came in the millions of dollars. Most of her staff have quit in disgust.

Stephens' complains of El Sayed being "hateful" when Rogers and the super PACS backing him have been running extremely hateful and bigoted ad campaigns against him. Does she not have a working pair of eyes?

Her political career is over.

 

[Segnosaur]

Which of course does not affect my main argument... that Stevens is a single person who's actions of switching to support the republican (whether it is a simple endorsement or something more) could be done for personal, non-political reasons, and not enough to conclude "all moderate democrats are just like republicans".

Nobody concluded that "all moderate democrats are just like republicans."

I was referring to the following earlier post/retweet:
Progressives: Moderate Democrats are basically Republicans
Moderate Democrats: No we’re not!
Progressives:
Moderate Democrats: I’m endorsing the Republican nominee for senate in Michigan

Sounds to me like its a blanket statement about how many/most "moderate democrats" were "basically republicans". After all, it had the response coming from "moderate democrats" (notice the plural 's' there), without any indication about this being the act of a single democrat. No context, no nuance or attempt to provide any sort of filter.

Please don't use quotations marks when it is not a quotation.

In this case, I am using the quotation marks to indicate that my assignment is conveying concepts/ideals, not necessarily a direct quote.

I could have said "basically republicans" (wording of the original statement) but "just like republicans" gets the point across just as well, even if the wording is slightly different.

 

[dann]

Her political career is over.

Yeah, looks like it.
Not even this guy supports her:
James Carville crashes out on Hayley Stevens (Hasanabi Reacts, YouTube short, 28 sec.)

 

[ahhell]

Biggest political blunder since the '24 presidential election.

El Sayed is up by 11 points over Rogers according to the NYT. In the hours following Stephens' announcement donations to his campaign came in the millions of dollars. Most of her staff have quit in disgust.

Stephens' complains of El Sayed being "hateful" when Rogers and the super PACS backing him have been running extremely hateful and bigoted ad campaigns against him. Does she not have a working pair of eyes?

Her political career is over.

Why the hell is giving him money days before the end of the campaign. That is a weird sort of signaling if you ask me. To be clear, this seems to be a think now a days that an old man like me can't quite understand. Seems like donating a few bucks to a go fund me or in this case, a compaign is just a way of announcing what side you're on regardless of what good it may or may not do.

hashtag, old man shakes cane at the sky.

 

[Segnosaur]

Her political career is over.

I guess the question is, even if she didn't endorse the republican, would she really have much of a political career?

Since she failed at her senate run, she would have a couple of years before she could run for federal office again. Also, in future house elections she would not have the benefit of being an incumbent. A couple of years being a political "nobody" would be hard for anyone to recover from. And its not like being a house member would have given her much of a profile to (for example) write a book or start a speaking tour.

 

[Segnosaur]

Whe the hell is giving him money days before the end of the campaign. That is a weird sort of signaling if you ask me. To be clear, this seems to be a think now a days that an old man like me can't quite understand. Seems like donating a few bucks to a go fund me or in this case, a compaign is just a way of announcing what side you're on regardless of what good it may or may not do.

hashtag, old man shakes cane at the sky.

Virtue signaling might be part of it. But its not like that money will disappear into the ether.

Many election campaigns do end up running deficits. Not sure if El Sayed is one of those candidates, but if so the extra donations can be used to offset the extra debt from this campaign.

It is possible that if he does win the election, he will also run again in 2032, in which case the money can be used in that election too.

 

[dann]

Dave Levitan on bsky, Nov 2, 2026
lol *incredible* framing 1/3

Dave Levitan on bsky, Nov 2, 2026
Inside the Henry VIII-Anne Boleyn Meltdown in England
The relationship shattered in part because of Rome, but also because of their sensitive egos and hurt feelings. The split had been months in the making. 2/3

Dave Levitan on bsky, Nov 2, 2026
I'm genuinely impressed by this one. Imagine watching that all go down this weekend and then writing those words. 3/3

 

[jt512]

Biggest political blunder since the '24 presidential election.

El Sayed is up by 11 points over Rogers according to the NYT.

That poll is an outlier. Two other polls conducted in the same period have him up by 1 and 6 points, and the RCP average is +5.

 

[PitPat]

That poll is an outlier. Two other polls conducted in the same period have him up by 1 and 6 points, and the RCP average is +5.

I'll go with the superior metric of Kalshi at a 79% chance.