Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens has requested protection from the U.S. Marshals Service after reportedly receiving death threats following her decision to endorse Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers. The request comes during the final days of a closely watched election campaign in Michigan, where political tensions have increased over the race for the state’s Senate seat.
Two senior officials in President Donald Trump’s administration confirmed that Stevens had contacted authorities about the threats. They told Axios that the congresswoman had asked the Marshals Service for protection after reporting threats against her life.
One of the officials said Stevens had received death threats and reached out to the federal agency. The official also explained that security requests must go through a formal process. However, the administration expects the request to be approved because Stevens is a sitting member of Congress.
The reported threats followed Stevens’ unexpected decision on Sunday to support Rogers instead of Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Her announcement quickly became one of the biggest political stories of the midterm election campaign’s final days.
Stevens had previously competed against El-Sayed in the Democratic Senate primary but lost the contest in August. She initially indicated that she would support the party’s nominee in the general election. However, disagreements between the two politicians later damaged their relationship.
Her decision to back Rogers triggered strong criticism from Democrats. Several members of her campaign and congressional staff also resigned following the announcement. The sudden change created further divisions within a party already facing a difficult political contest in Michigan.
The dispute between Stevens and El-Sayed was largely connected to their different positions on Israel and the debate surrounding the Middle East.
Stevens has been a strong supporter of Israel. During the primary campaign, she raised concerns about El-Sayed’s connections with progressive online commentator Hasan Piker. She also criticized an advertisement produced by a political action committee connected to Piker’s uncle, Cenk Uygur.
The advertisement linked Israel to rising grocery prices in the United States. Stevens objected to the message and wanted El-Sayed to take a stronger position against it.
El-Sayed publicly rejected the advertisement. However, Stevens said his response did not fully address her concerns. She also believed that the Democratic nominee did not want her involvement in his campaign.
The disagreement became more serious when Stevens was informed that she was no longer welcome at El-Sayed’s campaign events. This development further weakened their relationship and created uncertainty about whether she would continue supporting the Democratic nominee.
On Sunday, Stevens appeared alongside Rogers at a church service before announcing her endorsement of the Republican candidate. The appearance marked a major change in her position and attracted national attention.
Rogers welcomed the support as he continued his campaign against El-Sayed. The endorsement also created a difficult situation for Michigan Democrats, who had hoped to maintain party unity before election day.
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Stevens could not be reached for comment on Tuesday regarding her request for protection. The two administration officials did not provide further public details about the threats or identify the people responsible.
The security concerns have emerged during a tense period in Michigan. Several incidents involving political disagreements, threats and disputes over Israel have drawn attention across the state.
On Monday, reports emerged that a former El-Sayed campaign worker was among several anti-Zionist activists facing federal charges over alleged threats and harassment targeting members of Michigan’s Jewish community. The allegations added another layer to the growing debate over political activism and public safety.
A separate incident also took place on Sunday at a University of Michigan event. A conservative Jewish activist was reportedly attacked by a progressive activist during a gathering where organizers were criticizing Islam.
Earlier, on Friday, federal officials announced the arrest of a Michigan man accused of threatening FBI Director Kash Patel. The arrest added to concerns about threats against public officials and people involved in national political debates.
Stevens has also faced a confrontation with an anti-Zionist activist. She accused the individual of trying to intimidate her because of her support for Israel.
These developments have increased attention on the political divisions surrounding the Michigan Senate race. The disagreements involve campaign positions, support for Israel, progressive activism and the wider debate over political speech.
The request for U.S. Marshals protection now adds a security issue to Stevens’ already difficult political situation. Her endorsement of Rogers has created a major split with Democratic leaders and former campaign allies.
However, the full details of the reported death threats remain unclear. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or explained whether an investigation has led to arrests.
For now, Stevens’ security request is moving through the federal protection process. The reported threats also highlight the growing safety concerns facing elected officials during a highly tense election campaign. The outcome of the security review and any further details about the threats remain unknown.
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