AIPAC has become a dirty word in Michigan's US Senate race
The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has become a divisive issue in Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary, pitting candidates Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed against each other over their stances on U.S. support for Israel. A multi-million-dollar ad campaign backing Stevens has heightened scrutiny, while party divisions over Israel’s war in Gaza and broader Middle East policy are reshaping the race ahead of the August 4 primary.
Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary has become a battleground over the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), with candidates Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed clashing over their positions on U.S. support for Israel. Stevens, a U.S. Representative from Birmingham, faces criticism after a secretive group spent millions on ads supporting her, raising questions about her ties to pro-Israel organizations. McMorrow, a state senator from Royal Oak, and El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director from Ann Arbor, have also drawn scrutiny over their past statements and affiliations related to Israel. The debate reflects deeper divisions within the Democratic Party, exposed during the Michigan Democratic Party’s April convention, where progressives clashed with moderates over U.S. policy in Gaza and Iran. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a progressive critic of Israel, called the convention ‘electric,’ while Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet condemned the atmosphere. AIPAC, with 6.5 million supporters, remains a powerful lobbying force advocating for continued U.S. backing of Israel, despite criticism from some Democrats. The race is tightly contested, with Stevens, McMorrow, and El-Sayed vying to replace U.S. Sen. Gary Peters. Meanwhile, the Republican nominee, former Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake, holds a significant fundraising advantage. Analysts say the primary could expose fractures in the Democratic base, with AIPAC’s influence potentially deciding the outcome. The August 4 primary will determine whether Democrats retain control of Michigan’s Senate seat, a critical swing state. Critics argue the focus on AIPAC overshadows substantive policy discussions, with attacks centering on candidates’ past social media posts or professional backgrounds. Stevens has faced questions about her medical school degree despite not practicing medicine, while McMorrow’s old tweets have resurfaced. The race underscores how Middle East policy is reshaping Democratic politics ahead of the 2026 general election.
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