Campaign ridicule was the real winner of Michigan’s Democratic primary
Abdul El-Sayed’s victory was a clear win for anti-AIPAC Democrats — and ridicule.
The 2026 Michigan Democratic Senate primary showcased the power of ridicule, as Rep. Haley Stevens, a pro-Israel advocate, faced overwhelming mockery online after a viral video of her speaking passionately about Israel's significance. The incident, known as "Menorah in the D," gained traction two months after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, during a period when American enthusiasm for Israel was high.
Stevens' comments about Israel being seen in her dreams and the future of Israel particularly resonated with voters, leading to its continuous sharing on platforms such as X and TikTok. This, along with other unflattering moments from her career, contributed to her defeat by Abdul El-Sayed, who leaned on a decade of left-wing activism and ridicule to secure the win.
The final weeks of the campaign witnessed El-Sayed's campaign utilizing the "HaleyFacts.com" website, featuring a 19-second clip of Stevens' comments, which went viral and swayed voters against her. While the margin of victory wasn't as extensive as the polls indicated, the race served as a win for ridicule and a victory for El-Sayed and his supporters, who were unafraid of backlash.
As the primary concluded, it became evident that Democrats were becoming increasingly cautious when aligning with the pro-Israel lobby, deeming it unworthy of support.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
