Haley Stevens — Candidate Profile

Party: Democrat

Running in: Michigan Senate Race

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Haley Stevens

DemocratMichigan Senate Race
Campaign Website →

Summary

Haley Stevens (born June 24, 1983) is a U.S. Representative from Michigan's 11th Congressional District since 2019, representing most of urbanized Oakland County including Detroit's northern suburbs. She previously worked in President Obama's administration as chief of staff for the Auto Task Force and later directed the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute in Chicago. Stevens earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science and philosophy and Master of Arts in social policy and philosophy from American University.

Background

Stevens was born in Rochester Hills, Michigan and moved to Birmingham in middle school. She graduated from Seaholm High School in 2001 and earned degrees from American University. She worked for Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign before transitioning to Barack Obama's campaign and presidential administration. She served as chief of staff for the Auto Task Force during the 2008 financial crisis bailout, then directed manufacturing innovation programs. She returned to Michigan in 2017 to run for Congress, defeating then-Rep. Dave Trott in 2018. She has won reelection three times, with increasing margins (2% in 2020, 22% in 2022, 18% in 2024). Stevens is engaged to Rob Gulley, a software engineer she met in high school.

Campaign Platform

Healthcare
Lower healthcare costs and expand affordable healthcare
Fight to lower healthcare costs, expand access to affordable healthcare, protect people with pre-existing conditions, and strengthen the Affordable Care Act
Economy
Strengthen manufacturing economy
Support for USMCA and American Manufacturing Leadership Act to promote innovation and close the skills gap
Education
Support quality public education and skills training
Advocate for high quality public education and skills training programs so every Michigander has a path to a good career
Justice
Reform ICE and redirect funding
ICE needs complete overhaul and accountability; redirect $75 billion from Big Beautiful Bill to local law enforcement, training and safety

Key Issue Positions

Healthcare

Supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act rather than Medicare for All

Want everyone who can be covered under ACA to get covered; focuses on expanding rather than replacing current system

Voting History: Voted to oppose legislation banning transgender athletes from competing in women's sports (March 2023)

Immigration

Calls for ICE overhaul but not abolition

Signed onto articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem; wants accountability and complete overhaul of ICE

Voting History: Repeatedly voted to reinstate Congressional war powers and oppose 2026 Iran war

Israel-Palestine

Strong pro-Israel supporter

Strongly opposes BDS movement and calls it attempts to delegitimize Israel's right to exist; describes Israel as democracy and beacon of hope; voted to sanction International Criminal Court over Gaza arrest warrants

Voting History: Has received praise from AIPAC; accepted support from Democratic Majority for Israel

Manufacturing and Economy

Supports USMCA and manufacturing investment

Worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass USMCA; authored American Manufacturing Leadership Act

Voting History: Co-founded Congressional Future of Work Caucus addressing workforce training for advanced manufacturing

Voting Record

Stevens has missed only 7 of 3,663 roll call votes from January 2019 to March 2026 (0.2% absence rate), better than the median 2.1% for current representatives. She is a member of New Democrat Coalition and Problem Solvers Caucus, indicating a centrist approach.

BillTitleVoteDateSignificance
HRes.1131Procedural ResolutionYea2026-03-25Legislative procedural vote
Transgender athlete banLegislation banning transgender athletes from women's sportsNay2023-03Voted with Democrats to oppose Republican-proposed ban

Social Media Activity

Official campaign tone is professional and policy-focused, but Stevens has faced significant mockery on social media from Republican operatives (NRSC), who characterize her as awkward and politically inept. Her communications team has responded defensively to criticism.

Twitter/X2026-02-12

Criticism of ICE expansion and need for complete overhaul following Minnesota incident

Stevens took aim at Republican immigration policies and called for accountability at ICE

View post →
Twitter/X2026-03

Climate change is real; criticized Trump administration's anti-science environmental decisions

Environmental and health advocacy messaging central to campaign

Recurring Themes
Trump administration criticism and 'chaos agenda'Manufacturing and worker protectionHealthcare costs and affordabilityClimate change and environmental protectionPro-Israel advocacyICE reform and immigration accountability

Contradictions

Claim: Stevens claims to oppose corporate influence and supports campaign finance reform
Reality: Has directly received $1.7 million from corporate PACs since 2018, including donations from Cigna and DaVita
Source: Bridge Michigan reporting on 2026 fundraising
Claim: Stevens touts grassroots support with 95% small donations
Reality: At least 93% of her Q3 2025 fundraising came from out-of-state donors; received $7,500 from Cards Against Humanity co-creator
Source: Bridge Michigan February 1, 2026

What Opponents Say

Abdul El-Sayed

Stevens doesn't truly support progressive causes and is establishment-backed

El-Sayed criticized Stevens for accepting corporate PAC donations and AIPAC support

Mallory McMorrow

Stevens represents same-old Washington approach

McMorrow has called for new leadership and implicitly criticized establishment Democrats that Stevens represents

Mike Rogers campaign

Stevens has awkward nature and poor political instincts

Republicans mocked Stevens extensively on social media using 'Poochie' nickname and other tactics

Major Donors & PACs

AIPAC (indirect)Super PAC
AIPAC solicited contributions for Stevens' campaign in September 2025 fundraising email
$9 million+
Cigna (PAC)Industry PAC
Health care corporation PAC
Not specified
DaVita (PAC)Industry PAC
Kidney dialysis services giant
Not specified
Lynn SchustermanIndividual
Billionaire philanthropist who has given heavily to Michigan Democrats
$7,000
Eliot WeinsteinIndividual
Co-creator of Cards Against Humanity
$7,500

Endorsements

Democratic Senate Leadership (Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, DSCC)organizationReportedly receiving private backing from Democratic Senate leadership
AIPACorganizationPro-Israel lobby expected to spend heavily on Stevens' campaign
Democratic Majority for IsraelorganizationAccepted their support, describing herself as proud pro-Israel Democrat
Hillary ScholtenindividualU.S. Representative from Michigan's 3rd District
Michigan Democratic Party Black CaucusorganizationGrassroots endorsement
Former Speaker Joe TateindividualEndorsed Stevens; former Michigan House Speaker

Sources

  1. Wikipedia - Haley Stevens
  2. Haley Stevens for Senate - Official Campaign
  3. NBC News - Haley Stevens launches Michigan Senate run
  4. Bridge Michigan - In Michigan Senate race, Dems battle for bucks
  5. Washington Examiner - Democratic Haley Stevens faces trolling