AIPAC draws attention in Michigan Senate primary, but voters say it is not top issue

AIPAC's super PAC has spent over $30 million in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary to support Rep. Haley Stevens against Abdul El-Sayed, who leads by up to 16 points. Despite the spending, early voters say AIPAC is not their top issue, prioritizing affordability and other concerns. Polls show 49% of likely Democratic primary voters view AIPAC unfavorably. El-Sayed has made opposition to AIPAC central to his campaign, while Stevens and some Jewish leaders criticize his focus as potentially antisemitic.

In Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, AIPAC's super PAC has spent over $30 million to support Rep. Haley Stevens, a pro-Israel moderate, against Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive and staunch Israel critic. Despite the massive spending, interviews with early voters suggest AIPAC is not the top issue for many. Noelle Gray, a Detroit TV producer, voted for El-Sayed due to concerns about data centers and ICE, not AIPAC. Polls show 49% of likely Democratic primary voters have an unfavorable view of AIPAC. El-Sayed, who leads by up to 16 points, has made opposition to AIPAC a defining campaign theme. Stevens and some Jewish leaders criticize his focus, with Stevens writing that El-Sayed wants to blame Jewish Americans for problems. The article highlights a gap between AIPAC's prominence in the race and its importance to voters, who prioritize affordability, women's rights, and checking President Trump's power.