A Democratic Betrayal and GOP Panic: The Wild Finale of the Midterms
It’s almost over, and on this special Election Eve edition of Stress Test, David Corn and Garrison Hayes deconstruct the manic final moments before America votes. The big last-minute surprise was the 11th-hour bombshell out of Michigan. Defeated Democratic primary contender Haley Stevens sent shockwaves through the political world on Sunday when she rescinded her […]
One more night remains before the American people cast their votes, and David Corn and Garrison Hayes dissect the frantic finish to the midterms on this special Election Eve edition of Stress Test. The unexpected twist came from Michigan, where defeated Democratic primary candidate Haley Stevens abruptly reversed her support for fellow Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and endorsed Republican nominee Mike Rogers.
This shocking decision caught many off guard, as Stevens could not provide a clear explanation for her choice. She claimed she felt "hurt" by El-Sayed, sparking outrage from Democratic leadership and praise from former President Donald Trump.
David notes that Stevens' move could potentially determine control of the U.S. Senate, as "American democracy may hinge on who wins the Senate." Garrison points out the irony of Stevens, who once cultivated a reputation as an "Obama-adjacent Black voter whisperer," delivering her endorsement at a Detroit Black church, leaving Black voters feeling deeply betrayed.
The hosts discuss the limitations of late-stage polling and the Trump administration's preemptive legal battles over ballots in California and Alaska. Garrison observes that if confidence is measured by the Trump administration's handling of elections before votes have been counted, it might indicate a lack of confidence in their approach.
Reporter Noah Lanard calls in from upstate New York, recounting Vice President Mike Pence's last-minute rally for GOP candidate Anthony Constantino, a wealthy businessman who has poured $17 million of his own money into a House race. Garrison wonders why the GOP would send the vice president to a deep-red district that Trump carried by 21 points.
Noah describes the surreal scene of Constantino berating reporters as "evil news" who should be "deleted" while riding off on a mobility scooter with an elderly veteran across an airplane hangar.
David and Garrison then preview key races to watch on Election Night, including high-stakes showdowns in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Tennessee. They conclude by emphasizing that every time Americans have been given the chance to judge Trump's performance in office, they have wanted to "throw the bum out." The midterms will reveal if this pattern continues.
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