Over the weekend, Michigan Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens threw a last-minute curve ball into the midterms when she endorsed the Republican candidate in her home state's Senate race, the outcome of which will be key in determining which party controls the chamber next year.
The decision, which came just two days before the much-anticipated Nov. 3 elections, surprised and infuriated many of her Democratic colleagues in Congress and Wolverine State politics.
Stevens narrowly lost to progressive Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in their Senate primary, and the pair has had a strained relationship, particularly over issues related to Israel.
But Rep. Debbie Dingell, a fellow Michigan Democrat, said in several interviews that Stevens told her multiple
times she wouldn't support Mike Rogers, the Trump-endorsed GOP nominee. On Sunday, Stevens did.
"She has really hurt herself," Dingell, who's been close with Stevens, said on CNN.
Stevens' move immediately triggered resignations from her top staff members, denunciations from Democratic leadership in both chambers of Congress and swirling questions about her motives.
So what's next?
Stevens not returning to Congress
Regardless of whom she endorsed in Michigan's Senate race, Stevens is only returning to Congress for a matter of weeks. Her Senate bid precluded her from also running for reelection in the House of Representatives. She is slated to serve out the rest of her House term until January, when the 120th Congress is sworn in.
Speaking to CNN's Anderson Cooper on Nov. 1, Stevens downplayed her staff turnover, saying she was soon departing Capitol Hill to explain the upheaval.
"I'm winding down my office," she said. "It's all been packed up. There's just a couple weeks of lame duck left here."
In a statement, her chief of staff of eight years characterized the shift as much more of a betrayal.
"I speak on behalf of our team in wholeheartedly supporting Abdul El-Sayed for Senate," Justin German said. "We are shocked and heartbroken by Congresswoman Stevens' decision to support Mike Rogers."
Who will take Haley Stevens' place?
The person who will almost surely take over Stevens' House seat representing Michigan's 11th Congressional District is Jeremy Moss, a Democratic state senator. Moss is running against Republican Ethan Baker, the mayor of a northern Detroit suburb.
Multiple nonpartisan election forecasters have rated the district as safely Democratic.
Will Stevens be kicked out of the Democratic Party?
Though Stevens says she's continuing to support Democrats down the ballot, the congresswoman is already being ostracized.
The head of the Michigan Democratic Party said Nov. 1 that Stevens "is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the lower chamber, told Politico that Stevens made a "terrible decision" and said the caucus would discuss the "appropriate next steps upon our return." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on social media that Stevens' decision was a "despicable betrayal."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Haley Stevens leaving Congress? What to know about her seat and future
