Michigan Senate candidates debate Israel, campaign finance

The two remaining Democratic candidates for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat, Representative Haley Stevens and former state health director Abdul ElSayed, engaged in a sharply contentious debate Tuesday night, highlighting a stark ideological divide within the party just weeks before the August 4 primary. The one-on-one forum in Grand Rapids, the first since state Senator Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign on Sunday, crystallized the choice between Stevens's moderate, establishment-backed approach and ElSayed's progressive, anti-corporate insurgency.

The debate was marked by personal attacks and profound disagreements on core issues, most notably U.S. policy toward Israel and the influence of money in politics. ElSayed, who is endorsed by prominent progressive figures, repeatedly criticized Stevens for accepting support from corporate-backed groups and the pro-Israel political action committee AIPAC, which has spent millions on advertising in the race. He argued that such financial ties corrupt the political process. "Our politics have been deeply and profoundly corrupted by corporate money," ElSayed said, also calling for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel, which he...