Michigan's Democratic Senate primary puts spotlight on big money and pro-Israel lobby
American Israel Public Affairs Committee spending has become a campaign issue in more than just Michigan
A highly competitive and bitter Democratic Senate primary playing out in Michigan this week is being viewed as a kind of proxy fight for big money in politics, the power of the pro-Israel lobby and the future of U.S.-Israel relations within the party.
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primary → put → party
while the four-term Congresswoman Haley Stevens and her challenger, Abdul El-Sayed — a more progressive public health official endorsed by the likes of Sen. Bernie Sanders — have traded jabs over health care and ICE, campaign finances and foreign policy have become major flashpoints.
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finances → endorse → care
More than $60 million US has been spent on Stevens's behalf by various groups, according to Ad Impact.
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US → spend → Impact
Half of it — more than $30 million US — has come from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliated groups.
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Half → come → Committee
"The image of AIPAC has changed in the Democratic Party; it's highly polarizing now," said Doug Rossinow, a history professor at Metro State University in Saint Paul, Minn.
Spending by the group has become an issue elsewhere this election cycle, including in Minnesota, Rossinow said.
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Rossinow → change → Minnesota
There are still people in the party who see AIPAC's support as a seal of approval, he said, and those are the people supporting Stevens.
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those → be → Stevens
But in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, there are large numbers of voters, "particularly in its liberal base," who now see it as a "black mark."
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who → be → mark
AIPAC, which has said it is focused on strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship, did not respond to a request for comment from CBC News.
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it → say → News
Neither did its affiliated super PAC, the United Democracy Project, which has been running ads in support of Stevens.
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which → do → Stevens
The Michigan primary
The issue has come to a head in Michigan in part because of the candidates themselves and their starkly different views on what the U.S.-Israel relationship should look like.
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relationship → come → what
Stevens is a longtime supporter of Israel and once said "Israel comes to me in my dreams."
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Israel → say → dreams
She has said that she does not think Israel has committed genocide in Gaza and recently voted to continue funding Israel's military without conditions, though she said such a measure would also hinder humanitarian and peacekeeping aid.
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measure → say → aid
El-Sayed advocates for the end of unconditional U.S. military aid and weapons sales to the country.
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Sayed → advocate → country
He has called Israel a "rogue state" and has accused it of committing a "horrific genocide" in Gaza.
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He → call → Gaza
El-Sayed has also been linking U.S. foreign policy to affordability.
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Sayed → link → affordability
"Maybe we should keep our money here instead of sending it there to drop bombs on people's schools or their hospitals.
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we → keep → schools
That's our money," he said in late July on a podcast with political analyst Anand Giridharadas.
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he → say → Giridharadas
El-Sayed, like other left-leaning Democrats advocating for systemic economic and political change, has also been critical of any big money in politics, arguing it distorts the democratic process.
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it → lean → process
So AIPAC checks two boxes in his platform.
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AIPAC → check → platform
At a July 27 debate between the candidates, AIPAC came up repeatedly.
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AIPAC → come → candidates
"The difference between us is … AIPAC spending," El-Sayed said.
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Sayed → say → us
"They've set a record in this race to help elect my opponent because they know that she'll be a reliable vote."
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she → set → opponent
Stevens says she supports two-state solution
Stevens, on the other hand, often avoids talking about AIPAC directly, including during the debate.
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Stevens → say → debate
When the moderator asked whether voters should be concerned about the amount of money the organization is spending on her campaign, she said:
"I want to see long-term peace.
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I → ask → peace
I want to see a two-state solution.
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I → want → solution
I am deeply proud to represent one of the largest Jewish populations in a congressional district in the country."
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I → represent → country
What does it mean for upcoming midterm elections?
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it → mean → elections
In other moments, like in a recent post on X, she said El-Sayed wants to "blame all of your problems on Jewish Americans.
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Sayed → say → Americans
That's a message that worries many voters, says Jordan Acker, who backs Stevens and serves as one of eight elected regents at the University of Michigan.
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who → worry → Michigan
, is that there is a campaign running a race that if you don't have health care, if
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you → be → care
there's something wrong in your home, there's something wrong in society, it's because of Israel, it's because of AIPAC, and that's simply not true," he said.
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he → be → AIPAC
Is debate over pro-Israel lobby group swaying voters?
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debate → sway → voters
Political strategists, including Adrian Hemond of Michigan's Grassroots Midwest, aren't so convinced the issue is moving voters amid a tight race.
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issue → include → race
"AIPAC is not a top-of-mind issue for most voters in Michigan, even voters in the Democratic primary in Michigan, partly because our state is in such dire economic straits right now," he said.
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he → say → straits
Matt Duss, executive vice-president at the Center for International Policy and a former foreign policy advisor to Sanders, disagrees.
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Duss → disagree → Sanders
While it's not the "defining issue," he said, how the U.S. government responded to Gaza "connects to a broader sense of the establishment having failed.
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establishment → define → sense
"
Whether it's the economy, jobs, medical care or foreign policy, Duss said, "they see a corrupt, ineffective establishment."
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they → say → establishment
How is AIPAC's money playing out in other races?
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money → play → races
Michigan is fertile ground for this debate since it is home to an established Jewish population and a large Arab population, particularly in Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit.
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it → establish → Detroit
But the controversy over AIPAC spending has played out in other races.
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controversy → play → races
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
