Haley Stevens hid in Republican cloakroom when she returned to Congress after disastrous endorsement: report

As House lawmakers returned to Congress Monday, Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens was “hiding” out in a Republican cloakroom after endorsing a GOP candidate over her own party in the midterms, according to a report.Many in the Democratic Party consider Stevens persona non grata after she endorsed Republican Mike Rogers at the eleventh hour instead of Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Senate race. Stevens showed up to work but lay low as lawmakers cast votes Monday night, according to the Washington Sun. The congresswoman voted “yes” on two bills, according to the House clerk’s office, but was situated in the Republican cloakroom just off the House floor, out of sight of reporters, according to the outlet. The Democrat has maintained a low profile since the bombshell endorsement of Rogers, a move that blindsided some of her closest friends and rocked her party two days out from Election Day.The Independent has contacted Stevens’ office for comment.Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens was ‘hiding’ out in a Republican cloakroom as Congress returned Monday after endorsing a GOP candidate over her own party in the midterms, according to a report (Getty)Tension had been simmering between El-Sayed and Stevens over their stances on Israel, and the congresswoman complained of being shut out of El-Sayed’s campaign after he narrowly defeated her in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary.Stevens was swiftly kicked out of the Michigan Democratic Party after endorsing Rogers over El-Sayed, and some members of the Democratic House caucus are giving serious thought to banishing her over the “betrayal.”House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries previously said the party needed to have “a discussion about appropriate steps” after the election.“Haley Stevens made a terrible decision, blindsided everyone and isolated herself from the House Democratic caucus,” he told Politico.Others were more forthcoming and called for her removal from the caucus. “Deplorable and embarrassing. Capitulating to fascism, Islamophobia, racism and the policies hurting everyday Americans makes you unfit to serve with the Democratic caucus,” said Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois. “Shame on Haley Stevens.”Many in the Democratic Party consider Stevens persona non grata after she backed Republican Mike Rogers (AP)“A number of members are upset, and I think some people feel that it’s in violation of the rules of our caucus, which say that people are not supposed to support against members of the Democratic Party,” an unnamed Democratic lawmaker told NBC News.“People feel that it’s a terrible betrayal of our party in the last couple of days of the election,” the lawmaker added.Stevens’ unsuccessful Senate bid ruled her out of running for reelection in the House in the midterms and she has not revealed her next career move. She lashed out at Democrats who have called for her ouster in a lengthy statement last week.“What has troubled me almost as much as this experience is my party’s reaction,” she said. “Instead of asking why a lifelong Democrat reached this point, some leaders rushed to condemn me, question my motives, and push me out. That response reveals something deeply troubling about what is missing in today’s Democratic Party.”“Loyalty to a party should never require abandoning your values or judgment,” Stevens continued. “I still believe in the promise of the Democratic Party. But fulfilling that promise will require something more than loyalty tests and demands for blind obedience.”