Michael LaRosa, who previously served as press secretary to former First Lady Jill Biden, broke with party ranks by choosing to endorse Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers over the Democratic Socialists of America-backed Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.
“After decades of giving my all for Democratic House and Senate candidates, this fall I will support — and contribute to — Mike Rogers, Michigan’s GOP Senate nominee, instead. And I’ll do everything I can to make sure other Democrats follow,” LaRosa posted on social media, a quote he attributed to Democratic Party strategist Julian Epstein.
LaRosa then posted the single word “SAME,” which was widely interpreted as his endorsement of Rogers. The official Rogers campaign account then replied, “Welcome to the team, Michael! Glad to have your support as we fight to save this state!,” which was later reposted by LaRosa.
He later responded to backlash in a lengthy follow-up post a day later.“A personal note (of thanks, I guess?). I have to say, I’m genuinely flattered that a single-word post—‘SAME’—somehow morphed into a lightning rod and was transformed overnight into an official political ‘endorsement,’ eliciting so much anger, resentment, name-calling, smearing, and outrage. Flattered. Truly,” LaRosa wrote.
“But a quick reality check: I’m not a public official. I have no constituency, no endorsement apparatus, and no particular political juice to offer. I don’t vote in Michigan. I have no connection to Michigan or this Senate race beyond being a lifelong Democrat and political observer with opinions. Nobody asked me to endorse anyone. Nobody asked me to support anyone, sign anything, speak up, or get involved. I have no cult following to deliver and no role in this race. Additionally, and to be very clear, I seek none either. I’m perfectly content and only tweet in my spare time as a hobby or out of boredom, as I’m a lifelong political junkie,” he continued.
“I only care about keeping bad people out of the Democratic Party and good people in public service for the right reasons. That’s it.” The former Biden employee went on to state that he could “never support El-Sayed and described Rogers as a “reasonable” Republican.
“I would rather see someone like Rogers in the Senate than support a Democrat I believe lacks the courage to confront Hasan Piker and rhetoric I find corrosive, antisemitic, and dangerous,” the post continued.
A personal note (of thanks, I guess?)
I have to say, I’m genuinely flattered that a single-word post—“SAME”—somehow morphed into a lightning rod and was transformed overnight into an official political “endorsement,” eliciting so much anger, resentment, name-calling, smearing,…
— Michael LaRosa (@MichaelLaRosaDC) August 8, 2026
LaRosa served as press secretary to First Lady Jill Biden from January 2021 until July 2022 and concurrently as special assistant to President Joe Biden. He had earlier been Jill Biden’s chief spokesman and traveling press secretary throughout the 2020 presidential campaign and transition, after roles producing for MSNBC’s “Hardball,” directing communications for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and serving in House Democratic leadership communications.
After departing the administration he moved into public-affairs and lobbying work while continuing as a political commentator, a role in which he at times publicly critiqued elements of the Biden White House’s internal culture and press practices.
