Mike Rogers' Team Asked AIPAC Not to Run Ads Against El-Sayed: Report
Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers asked AIPAC not to air ads targeting Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, Axios reported Saturday.
A report from Axios revealed that Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for the Senate in Michigan, requested that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) refrain from running advertisements against his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed. AIPAC, known for its significant influence in political races, has faced criticism from some Democrats and progressive candidates.
In the recent Michigan Democratic primary, several candidates managed to win despite AIPAC and affiliated organizations spending millions of dollars on behalf of their opponents. El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat critical of Israel's actions in Gaza, defeated incumbent Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary, largely due to a campaign backed by AIPAC and United Democracy Project (UDP), which spent around $30 million.
Despite his endorsement from President Donald Trump and strong pro-Israel stance, Rogers urged AIPAC not to run ads against El-Sayed, citing the potential backfire of such an approach. AIPAC's decision to not proceed with the ads highlighted the sensitivity surrounding its involvement in political races. El-Sayed, who has described Israel's military actions in Gaza as genocide, has also criticized AIPAC's political spending and vowed to reject corporate PAC money.
Rogers, a former congressman, emphasized his commitment to Israel's safety while also rejecting accusations of antisemitism. The outcome of the race, which could determine control of the Senate, has drawn national attention, with several analysts noting the impact of AIPAC's spending on Democratic primaries.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
