AIPAC Super PAC Dumps Millions Into Michigan Senate Race for a Single Week of Pro-Stevens Ads

MICHIGAN – Today, with eight weeks left until the primary election, AIPAC’s Super PAC United Democracy Project bought over $2 million in ad reservations in its first official buy in support of Haley Stevens – a clear attempt to quell the momentum of Michigan Senate frontrunner and UAW-endorsed candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.

The spend comes after an infusion of pro-Haley Stevens ads funded by a combination of pop-up AIPAC fronts and centrist dark money groups have so far failed to blunt Abdul’s growing momentum. Recent polls place Abdul at the front of the pack in the Democratic primary, including one that had Abdul leading the Democratic primary candidates in head-to-head general election matchups. Just this past month, Abdul has won the support of the United Autoworkers, Working Families Party, and Move On. 

“Abdul has tapped into something that voters are hungry for and that’s being reflected in the polls,” said Roxie Richner, campaign spokesperson. “AIPAC and the establishment are falling back on the same big money playbook to try to boost Haley and take Abdul down. It’s not going to work.”

As reported by the Detroit News, AIPAC has been working to raise funds for the Stevens campaign both directly and indirectly. In 2024, United Democracy Project spent nearly $4 million to support Haley Stevens in her primary against former Congressman Andy Levin, a Jewish leader in Michigan, whose views diverged with AIPAC on funding Israel. 

AIPAC is actively undermining Democratic efforts to build a Senate Majority. Last month, the group sent a joint fundraising email for Maine Republican Susan Collins and Haley Stevens. The fundraising email called Abdul “a direct threat to the U.S.-Israel relationship.”

In races across the county, from Illinois to New Jersey, United Democracy Project and pop-up front groups have spent millions to attempt to shape Democratic primaries, and have increasingly failed to elect their chosen candidates.

Abdul is the only candidate in the Michigan Senate race that has never met with AIPAC or sought their support. The El-Sayed campaign will continue to focus on representing everyday Michiganders, rather than outsized special interests. 

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