After Michigan Loss: AIPAC Considers Investing Again Against Abdul El-Sayed

AIPAC is considering investing tens of millions of dollars to defeat Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan general election for Senate, after spending $32 million in the primary without success. The organization is exploring support for Republican candidate Mike Rogers, though no official decision has been made. El-Sayed, a sharp critic of Israel, won by a narrow margin. The organization has about $80 million in its coffers.

AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is considering investing tens of millions of dollars in another attempt to defeat Abdul El-Sayed, after already spending $32 million unsuccessfully in the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan. According to the New York Times, the pro-Israel organization is exploring the possibility of supporting Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the November general election. AIPAC's political committee tried to promote House member Haley Stevens, but El-Sayed, a sharp critic of Israel who supports a full arms embargo, won by a narrow margin and only a plurality. AIPAC spokesperson Daryn Souza said, "Our members are determined to ensure that voters reject Dr. El-Sayed and his radical, anti-Israel agenda in November." However, political committee spokesperson Patrick Dorton clarified that no official decision has been made. According to reports to the Federal Election Commission, the organization had about $80 million in its coffers at the end of June. Direct support for a Republican in a close race in a key state would be an unusual shift for AIPAC, which presents itself as a bipartisan organization and only began investing in federal elections in 2022. So far, the group has intervened in only one general race, spending about $1.2 million against Congresswoman Summer Lee of Pittsburgh, who won easily. Rogers has presented himself as a staunch supporter of Israel, while El-Sayed has made his opposition to Israel central to his campaign and stated he would vote to cut off funding to the country. In his victory speech, El-Sayed tried to appeal to Jewish voters, saying, "My commitment to your safety, to Jewish safety, is the same commitment I have to the safety of my daughters." He continued to attack AIPAC, calling on it to "burn its money" in the general election as well. Among AIPAC supporters, there have been calls to intensify the fight. Sam Markstein, political director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said, "The days when we were told to be quiet and be nice are over," adding, "We will double our efforts and do what it takes to win." The discussion takes place against the backdrop of changing Democratic attitudes toward the organization. A recent poll showed that nearly half of Michigan Democrats hold a negative view of AIPAC, compared to only 12 percent who view it positively. Meanwhile, candidates critical of Israel won primaries in New York, California, and Illinois. AIPAC is also considering helping Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine, but those close to it estimate it will not invest in both races this fall. J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami warned that supporting Rogers would be "political malpractice," arguing that every additional dollar AIPAC invests "deepens the problem" and pushes Democratic voters away from supporting Israel.