Stevens and ElSayed Debate Ahead of Michigan Senate Primary

With one week remaining before Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, a final televised debate between U.S. Representative Haley Stevens and former public health official Abdul ElSayed on Monday, July 27, underscored the deep ideological and strategic divisions within the party. The hour-long forum, held in Southfield and moderated by a local news anchor, featured sharp exchanges over campaign finance, policy, and personal rhetoric as the candidates vie for the nomination to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.

The debate repeatedly centered on the influence of outside money, particularly from groups affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). ElSayed, a progressive challenger endorsed by Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, accused Stevens of being beholden to donors, citing over $30 million spent by the AIPAC-backed super PAC United Democracy Project to support her campaign. He connected that spending to her recent vote against an amendment that would have cut $3.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Israel, which he criticized. Stevens, a moderate congresswoman serving her fourth term, largely sidestepped direct questions...