Democratic U.S. Senate candidates spar over AI data centers, AIPAC funding

Three Democratic candidates for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat—Abdul El-Sayed, Mallory McMorrow, and Haley Stevens—clashed over artificial intelligence data center policies and funding sources during a May 28, 2026, debate at the Mackinac Policy Conference. The closed-door event, streamed live, marked one of the first deep dives into policy ahead of the August 5 primary, where the winner will face Republican Mike Rogers in November. El-Sayed and McMorrow criticized corporate campaign donations, while Stevens defended her record of accepting such funds. Stevens also faced scrutiny for AIPAC’s support, which El-Sayed condemned as misaligned with his foreign policy priorities. El-Sayed highlighted his refusal to seek AIPAC’s backing, arguing that U.S. taxpayer dollars should not fund military aid abroad while domestic needs go unmet. McMorrow shifted focus to Iran, citing Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion war budget while warning of cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. She framed Rogers as a potential Trump ally, noting that most Republicans opposing Trump have lost recent elections. Stevens emphasized diplomacy over military force, criticizing Trump’s reduction of U.S. aid to allies and calling for peace efforts in Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, and China-Taiwan. The debate underscored divisions among Democrats on foreign policy, corporate influence, and military spending. Stevens defended her foreign policy experience, while El-Sayed and McMorrow tied funding sources to broader critiques of U.S. military and domestic priorities. The August 5 primary will determine which candidate advances to face Rogers in November.