Haley Stevens’ Senate Campaign

In South Haven, Michigan, Senate candidate Haley Stevens frequently discusses manufacturing and opposing President Donald Trump. Her focus is on being the Democrat best suited to win the state. However, she says less about the pro-Israel group heavily backing her campaign.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and related groups have invested close to $30 million in support of Stevens. This investment, unprecedented in scale for a single race, aims to defeat progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed in the August 4 primary. Stevens tends to avoid talking about AIPAC directly, even as its financial backing significantly influences the race. Though questioned about AIPAC at a campaign stop in West Michigan, Stevens spoke extensively without mentioning the organization.

“Anyone who supported me is supporting me because of my dedication to the people of Michigan and what I have accomplished for Michiganders,” Stevens told The Associated Press when questioned about AIPAC’s support.

The Role of AIPAC in Democratic Politics

The involvement of AIPAC has become politically sensitive within Democratic circles due to divisions over U.S. support for Israel amid war in Gaza. The group aims to elect lawmakers who support its mission of strengthening U.S.-Israel relations. Importantly, the issue has particular resonance in Michigan, which has the nation’s largest Arab American population.

Beyond Michigan, El-Sayed’s allies view the race as a test of grassroots campaigning against outside financial influence.

“One of the laws of nature in politics is whoever spends the most money wins,” noted New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, campaigning for El-Sayed.

Stevens has allocated about $1 million for advertising. Her supporters have spent around $50 million. Her campaign is reportedly raising sufficient resources to aim for victory.

In contrast, El-Sayed has made his campaign’s focus the influence of AIPAC and its substantial financial contributions toward Stevens. He accuses Stevens of being chiefly influenced by her donors.

“She is nothing more than an employee of these billionaires,” remarked Sen. Bernie Sanders, actively campaigning for El-Sayed.

Advertising and Campaign Finance

While many ads in Michigan funded by AIPAC do not mention Israel, they highlight Stevens’ work on manufacturing. Former President Barack Obama is featured in some of them.

AIPAC strategically avoids directly promoting its identity or discussing Israel and Palestine.

“AIPAC never runs on AIPAC. They never even discuss Israel and Palestine,” commented former Rep. Andy Levin.

The Divide Over Israel

The Democratic candidates hold contrasting positions on Israel’s actions in Gaza. Stevens, although not Jewish, has been a strong pro-Israel advocate. During debates, she criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. El-Sayed, on the other hand, described Israel’s actions as “genocide” and criticizes AIPAC’s influence.

The war in Gaza began following Hamas’ attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties and an ongoing conflict.

If elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim U.S. senator. He addresses potential concerns regarding his faith affecting his electability, emphasizing the importance of daily life choices informed by his beliefs.

El-Sayed’s campaign emphasizes grassroots support, with over 10,000 volunteers statewide.

“This election will come down to the many versus the money,” El-Sayed stated.

Broader Democratic Divide

Beyond Michigan, divisions over U.S. support for Israel have grown within the Democratic Party. Recently, 103 House Democrats attempted to block significant aid to Israel, highlighting the party’s internal tensions.

Notably, Rep. Pat Ryan expressed reluctance to accept support from AIPAC in future elections.

In Michigan, Sen. Elissa Slotkin faced pressure from activists to address issues surrounding Israel more decisively. As the voting landscape continues to evolve, some strategists question how these issues influence primary voters, suggesting that economic concerns may hold greater influence.

“It’s not that Democratic primary voters love AIPAC. They obviously don’t,” said Michigan political strategist Adrian Hemond. “But this doesn’t even register as an issue that’s influencing voting behavior for the overwhelming majority of primary voters.”