AIPAC has spent record amount on Michigan’s Senate primary, in test of its influence

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has invested nearly $30 million in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, backing Representative Haley Stevens against progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed. This marks AIPAC's largest-ever expenditure in a single race, aiming to elect a candidate who supports a strong US-Israel relationship. Stevens has largely avoided direct discussion of AIPAC's support, stating, "Anyone who supported me is supporting me because of my dedication to the people of Michigan." El-Sayed, who has called Israel's military campaign in Gaza a "genocide," has made AIPAC's influence a central theme of his campaign, with Senator Bernie Sanders remarking that Stevens "is nothing more than an employee of these billionaires." The race highlights a growing divide within the Democratic Party over US support for Israel, particularly in Michigan, which has a significant Arab American population. Despite the substantial outside spending, some strategists question whether the issue of Israel will ultimately sway most primary voters, who may prioritize concerns like the economy.