AIPAC Spends $19 Million Backing Stevens in Michigan Senate Primary as El-Sayed Leads Polls
Updated
Updated · The New Yorker · Jul 10
AIPAC Spends $19 Million Backing Stevens in Michigan Senate Primary as El-Sayed Leads Polls
3 articles · Updated · The New Yorker · Jul 10
Summary
$19 million in June from AIPAC’s United Democracy Project has flooded Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary with ads boosting Rep. Haley Stevens and attacking Abdul El-Sayed ahead of the Aug. 4 vote.
The spending reflects the race’s sharp split over Israel: Stevens backs the U.S.-Israel relationship, while El-Sayed has made support for Palestinians a central message and says he threatens AIPAC’s influence.
El-Sayed, a progressive former public-health official, has emerged as the polling front-runner after state Sen. Mallory McMorrow ended her campaign on July 5, turning the contest into a direct Stevens-El-Sayed fight.
Chuck Schumer, the DSCC and prominent Michigan Democrats have lined up behind Stevens as the more electable general-election candidate against Republican Mike Rogers, while El-Sayed argues the establishment is resisting a broader party shift.
As record corporate cash floods elections, can a candidate's message still outweigh massive ad spending?
With voters focused on living costs, will a traditional or a radical economic platform win them over?
Michigan’s $10 Million Senate Primary: AIPAC, Progressives, and the Battle for the Democratic Party’s Future
Overview
The Michigan Democratic Senate primary is heating up as the August 4 election nears, with high stakes for the party since Senator Gary Peters is not seeking re-election. This open seat has drawn intense competition, especially given Michigan’s status as a swing state after Trump’s narrow 2024 win. The race centers on a clear choice between moderate Haley Stevens and progressive Abdul El-Sayed, highlighting deep ideological divides within the party. The outcome is crucial for Democrats, as it will determine who faces a strong Republican opponent and could signal the future direction of the party in a competitive political landscape.