U.S. Representative Haley Stevens, a moderate Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, accused her primary rival Abdul El-Sayed of blaming Jewish Americans for his political challenges. The accusation came Friday, just days before the August 4 primary vote, after El-Sayed publicly challenged the pro-Israel AIPAC lobby. He has made opposition to the group a central issue in his campaign, highlighting the significant role of external financial influence in American politics.
El-Sayed, in a social media clip that gained widespread attention, directly urged AIPAC to “come for me.” He stated, “You picked [Stevens] the least capable candidate in America… If you think you can beat money out of politics, money in your pocket, medicare for all, come.” He then added, “I’ll tell you what people don’t want: they don’t want money in a foreign government,” explicitly referencing AIPAC, which has invested heavily to defeat him in the primary.
Stevens, who is not Jewish, responded to El-Sayed's remarks on X. She suggested he would be a less viable candidate against a Republican in the general election. Her post declared, “everyone in America understands you want to blame all of your problems on Jewish Americans.” Stevens outlined her policy priorities, including lowering grocery costs and banning stock trading for elected officials, before dismissing El-Sayed as a “celebrity whining and writing books to get even richer,” labeling him part of the “complainer class.”
Challenging the Lobby
AIPAC has spent record levels in the Michigan primary, aiming to defeat El-Sayed due to his anti-Israel stance. His rhetoric against the pro-Israel group and its influence on US policy has alarmed some Jewish Democrats in Michigan. These individuals are reportedly reconsidering their party loyalty if El-Sayed wins the primary, fearing such a victory could signal an “existential threat” to the national Jewish community. They worry that a win for El-Sayed in a swing state might encourage more candidates with similar views, potentially creating an unsafe environment for Jews in Michigan and beyond.
This Michigan race underscores the nationwide importance of the Jewish vote and the broader debate around US support for the Israeli settler-colonial project. New York State Republicans have already made explicit appeals to Jewish Democrats, launching a digital ad campaign claiming Jews were leaving the party “in droves” “from Maine to Michigan.” This political maneuvering highlights the strategic importance placed on the community's vote in national elections.
A Shifting Political Landscape
El-Sayed is not an isolated case. Graham Platner, a former Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, had placed anti-Israel criticism at the center of his platform before withdrawing over sexual assault allegations he denied. Furthermore, opposition to the Israeli state has fueled primary wins for left-wing candidates in New York, Colorado, and other states. These developments suggest a growing challenge to the long-standing bipartisan consensus on unquestioning support for Israel, even as powerful lobbies like AIPAC intensify their efforts to maintain it.