Haley Stevens Bio
Haley Maria Stevens (born June 24, 1983) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who has served as the U.S. representative for Michigan’s 11th congressional district since 2019. She represents much of urbanized Oakland County, including many of Detroit’s northern suburbs. Prior to entering elective office, Stevens built a career in organizing, presidential campaign work, and federal economic policy, focusing on manufacturing and workforce issues.
She first gained recognition as a field organizer in Michigan and on the 2008 presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and later Barack Obama. She later served on the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and worked with the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute. In April 2025, Stevens announced a campaign for the 2026 United States Senate election in Michigan.
Early Life and Background
Haley Maria Stevens was born in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on June 24, 1983. She was first raised in Rochester Hills before her family moved to Birmingham, Michigan, while she was in middle school. Growing up across two Oakland County communities gave her an early familiarity with the Detroit suburbs she would later represent in Congress.
Stevens graduated from Seaholm High School in Birmingham in 2001. She then attended American University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and philosophy in 2005. She continued her studies at American University, completing a Master of Arts in social policy and philosophy in 2007, providing the academic foundation for her later work in policy and politics.
Path to US Politics
Stevens began her professional path in politics in 2006, when the Michigan Democratic Party hired her as a field organizer. The role introduced her to the mechanics of voter outreach, coalition building, and campaign operations. In 2007, she joined Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, traveling and organizing for the primary effort.
When Barack Obama secured the Democratic nomination, Stevens transitioned to his presidential campaign, continuing her work in field operations. In 2009, she was hired by Steven Rattner to join the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, an early signal of her interest in manufacturing and industrial policy. She later worked for the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute in Chicago, sharpening her expertise in advanced manufacturing.
Haley Stevens Career
Early Career (2017)
In January and February 2017, Stevens returned to Rochester Hills after living outside Michigan. She launched a campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in Michigan’s 11th congressional district in April 2017. The district had been held by two-term Republican Dave Trott, whose team initially labeled Stevens a “carpetbagger.” When Trott announced his retirement in September 2017, the 11th district became an open seat, giving Stevens a clearer path to the general election.
Stevens won the Democratic primary against state Representative Tim Greimel and faced Republican businesswoman Lena Epstein in the general election. A late robocall recorded by Hillary Clinton helped move Stevens from second place in pre-election polls to a winning margin, a shift Politico credited to the robocalls. Her victory, paired with Elissa Slotkin’s win in the neighboring 8th district, marked the first time since the 1930s that no Republicans represented Oakland County in the U.S. House.
U.S. House of Representatives Breakthrough (2019-Present)
Stevens took office in January 2019 and was selected, alongside fellow Obama administration alumnus Colin Allred, as co-president of the House Democratic freshman class of the 116th United States Congress. In October 2019, she held a town hall on curbing gun violence at a Commerce Township gun club, where protesters repeatedly interrupted the event, prompting Stevens to respond that “This is why the NRA has got to go.” Her first term established her as an active voice on gun violence prevention and constituent engagement.
After Michigan lost a congressional seat following the 2020 census, Stevens’s home in Rochester Hills was drawn out of the 11th district. She opted to move to Waterford and challenge fellow Democrat Andy Levin in the primary, reportedly outspending him by a factor of five. Her 2022 primary win, 60% to 40%, was supported by roughly $5 million from EMILY’s List-affiliated donors and roughly $4.3 million from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. She went on to win the 2022 general election against Republican Mark Ambrose with 61.3% of the vote.
In 2024, Stevens won the Democratic primary against Ahmed Ghanim with 87.1% of the vote and secured the general election against Republican Nick Somberg and Green Party candidate Douglas Campbell with 58.2%. Throughout her House tenure, she has been part of the Women in STEM Caucus and has supported investments in manufacturing, technology, and workforce development.
2026 U.S. Senate Campaign (2025)
In April 2025, Stevens announced her candidacy for the 2026 United States Senate election in Michigan, the seat being vacated by retiring incumbent Gary Peters. Her campaign quickly drew support from Democratic Senate leadership, including Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The Senate run represents her most ambitious political step yet, building on her experience in manufacturing policy and her work in the House.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Stevens’s defining moments, the 2018 general election upset driven by a Clinton robocall stands out, as does her 2022 primary defeat of Andy Levin, which showcased her fundraising strength and her positions on Israel. She drew national attention in 2020 with a floor speech where, wearing pink latex gloves, she made a pointed statement about COVID-19 safety. More recently, in December 2025, she filed articles of impeachment against Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing his stance on public health.
Haley Stevens Career Wins
Haley Stevens has built a record of competitive congressional victories in Michigan’s 11th district, navigating both open-seat contests and incumbent primaries. Her wins reflect consistent support in Oakland County, where she has combined strong Democratic turnout with a personal brand tied to manufacturing and workforce policy.
U.S. House of Representatives Highlights
Stevens’s first win came in 2018, when she defeated Republican Lena Epstein in the open-seat race for Michigan’s 11th congressional district. She won reelection in 2020 against Republican Eric Esshaki in a tighter-than-expected race, then in 2022 won the Democratic primary against Andy Levin before defeating Republican Mark Ambrose with 61.3% of the vote. Her most recent House win came in 2024, when she won renomination with 87.1% of the vote and the general election with 58.2% against Republican Nick Somberg.
Other Wins & Achievements
Beyond her election results, Stevens has earned selection as co-president of the House Democratic freshman class in 2019, a recognition of her standing among her peers. She has also maintained active caucus memberships, including the Women in STEM Caucus, and has been a frequent voice on manufacturing, technology, and workforce development issues throughout her tenure.
Haley Stevens Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Haley Maria Stevens was raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and later in Birmingham, Michigan, where she attended Seaholm High School. Publicly available details about her parents and siblings remain limited, and she has not disclosed extensive information about her immediate family.
Personal Life
Stevens lives in Birmingham, Michigan. She married Rob Gulley, a software engineer she met in high school, on September 3, 2021. On October 5, 2022, Stevens and Gulley announced their divorce, ending a marriage that had lasted just over a year. She has not publicly disclosed having children, and details of her personal life beyond her marriage to Gulley remain limited.