A return to the Capitol out of reporters' view
Stevens was at the Capitol for the votes but remained out of reporters' sight in the cloakroom adjoining the House floor, according to the Washington Sun. Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, marked the House's first session since the midterm elections.
Earlier, reporters had been unable to reach her at her Rayburn House Office Building office. Mediaite reported that the doors were locked and the lights were off despite a sign inviting visitors to "please come in." Knocks and phone calls received no response.
Her endorsed candidate lost the Michigan Senate race. CBS News projected Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's victory over Rogers, and final tallies put El-Sayed at about 52.5% and Rogers at 45.5%, a roughly 7-point margin. El-Sayed became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, keeping the seat vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters in Democratic hands.
Party membership and caucus status
The endorsement prompted a mass resignation among Stevens' congressional staff, Mediaite reported, as well as action by the Michigan Democratic Party to expel her. State party chair Curtis Hertel Jr. said she is "not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future." Media reports described her as having been kicked out of the state party.
Her standing among House Democrats was also under scrutiny. The Washington Sun reported that colleagues called the endorsement a "terrible decision" and a "despicable betrayal," with some saying there was "not a place" for her in the caucus.
Some House Democrats sought her removal from the caucus, citing rules that members are "not supposed to support against members of the Democratic Party." The Independent reported that one House Democrat also wanted Stevens stripped of all committee assignments and barred from caucus meetings through the end of her term on January 3, 2027.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would have "a discussion about appropriate steps" after the election. He said Stevens "blindsided everyone and isolated herself from the House Democratic caucus."
Stevens defends her decision
Stevens responded to calls for her ouster in a lengthy statement on X on Monday night. "Loyalty to a party should never require abandoning your values or judgment," she wrote, accusing some leaders of having "rushed to condemn me, question my motives, and push me out."
Politico reported that her future in the House Democratic Caucus remained unresolved. The outlet also raised questions about how she might vote on critical year-end legislation during the remaining weeks of her term, before Democrats retake the House majority in January.
