Michigan Democrat Goes Viral for ‘Weird AF’ Campaign Speech, and Is Promptly Roasted: ‘Wow, Chris Farley Is Running for Senate’
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Rep. Haley Stevens spawned some social media mockery after a clip of her sounding hyper-Midwest while talking about how she will "stick it to 'em!" went viral The post Michigan Democrat Goes Viral for ‘Weird AF’ Campaign Speech, and Is Promptly Roasted: ‘Wow, Chris Farley Is Running for Senate’ first appeared on Mediaite.
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) has spawned some social media mockery after a clip of her sounding hyper-Midwest while talking about how she will “stick it to ’em!” went viral, and spurred a lot of comparisons to an iconic character Chris Farley portrayed on Saturday Night Live.
The RNC Research account on Monday posted a 19-second clip of Stevens trying her best to pump up potential voters during a campaign stop in Ecorse, Michigan, on July 11.
Stevens is currently locked in a tight battle with Abdul El-Sayed, who was recently confronted on CNN about lying about his past call to “defund the police”, to replace outgoing Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI).
“I am gonna be workin’ on our behalf, I am gonna be tellin’ the stories on our behalf,” Stevens said in the clip. “And you better believe I’m gonna be doin’ it with a little bit of joy, a little bit of enthusiasm, a little bit of energy, and a little bit of ‘stick it to ’em!’ Because that’s the Michigan way!”
Just reading her quote doesn’t do it justice, however. Stevens sounded like a parody of a Midwesterner, for starters, and really threw herself into driving her points home by repeatedly shoving her arms out; she then emphasized she will “stick it” to people who are anti-Michigan, apparently, by punching her hand softly a few times.
A lot of X users got a kick out of it, including Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe.
“Is this for real?” Boothe posted, along with the crying face emoji.
Is this for real?! https://t.co/Z3fE7RQfsw
, Lisa Boothe (@LisaMarieBoothe) July 14, 2026
Others felt Stevens was doing her best impression of Farley’s famous Matt Foley character on SNL, the high-octane motivational speaker who had fallen on hard times and was now “livin’ in a van down by the river!”
Wow, Chris Farley is running for Senate in Michigan pic.twitter.com/lWMY5xJpfd
, Douglass Mackey (@douglassmackey) July 14, 2026
Matt Foley if he was trans https://t.co/OeBwtIa3Hl
, Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) July 13, 2026
Not gonna lie, I was fully expecting this to end with "in a van… down by the river." https://t.co/nsYokY0p0m
, RBe (@RBPundit) July 13, 2026
Bad Chris Farley impression? My culture is not your costume, lady. https://t.co/3huY8bFUaX
, Kaelan Dorr (@Kaelan) July 14, 2026
Same energy….. https://t.co/RvaD0bKUa7 pic.twitter.com/u1H5Phvf9Y
, 𝓐𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷 𝓡𝓪𝔂 (@2CynicAl65) July 14, 2026
Others just felt it was “flat-out weird.”
According to people On Here, it's misogynist and sexist to say that Haley Stevens looks and sounds just flat out weird pic.twitter.com/Afqeh0kU4q
, David (@davidslosttt) July 13, 2026
Holy weird af pic.twitter.com/lueaJ8OjOz
, Tyler Bowyer (@tylerbowyer) July 14, 2026
shes truly such a unique candidate LMAO pic.twitter.com/t1ZQlxzlyX
, em (@polisciqueenn) July 13, 2026
The Daily Wire editor-in-chief Brent Scher wondered how Stevens could possibly lose to El-Sayed, until seeing the clip of her ranting.
Maybe Abdul El-Sayed is winning hearts and minds in liberal Michigan.
……or maybe he’s just running against this? pic.twitter.com/HgCEpDpz3D
, Brent Scher (@BrentScher) July 14, 2026
He wasn’t the only pundit who questioned how El-Sayed could be leading in several polls, either. The New York Times currently shows Stevens ahead in 10 polls and El-Sayed in 9 as they head towards the state’s Democratic primary on August 4.
If you ever wonder how a candidate as bad as Abdul El-Sayed can be winning a primary for one of the most important states to Democrats…
Consider that this is his opponent. https://t.co/fG15Ojr44B
, Matt Whitlock (@MattWhitlock) July 14, 2026
We haven’t had a spunky high-energy husky gal on the national stage since Katie Porter and I am here for it. She has my unqualified endorsement. https://t.co/TwJYWvdfZa
, Jarvis (@jarvis_best) July 14, 2026
How is this not a character from parks & rec? https://t.co/czfrRbUi8c
, Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) July 14, 2026
Stevens went on to say she wasn’t a “celebrity candidate” during her campaign stop, likely referring to El-Sayed having streamer Hasan Piker help boost him, but that she has “enough energy to light up a few rooms.” That seems clear.
She also said she wants to use that energy to “not write tweets, [but] write bills.”
Stevens was on MS NOW’s Morning Joe on Tuesday morning alongside Peters. The outgoing senator endorsed her on the program.
Watch above.
The post Michigan Democrat Goes Viral for ‘Weird AF’ Campaign Speech, and Is Promptly Roasted: ‘Wow, Chris Farley Is Running for Senate’ first appeared on Mediaite.