Mike Rogers Asks AIPAC Not to Advertise in Michigan Senate Race

Allies of Mike Rogers, Michigan's Republican nominee for the US Senate, have asked AIPAC not to advertise on his behalf in his campaign against Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed.

Rogers spoke with AIPAC chair Michael Tuchin in Los Angeles last week. The day after their meeting, AIPAC shelved an already-prepared video ad targeting El-Sayed. This request has triggered a rupture with the pro-Israel group. The tension underscores how AIPAC’s political standing has fallen amid voters' anger over the war in Gaza, leading Rogers, a staunchly pro-Israel Republican, to fear the group's public support could be a liability in the November 3 election.

AIPAC had spent over $30 million trying to defeat El-Sayed in the Democratic primary and was prepared to spend millions more to help elect Rogers. El-Sayed narrowly won his primary against Haley Stevens on August 4. Rogers' team had warned AIPAC beforehand that they expected El-Sayed to win. El-Sayed made AIPAC's spending a central target during his primary campaign, arguing it showed Stevens was beholden to the pro-Israel lobby.

Rogers' campaign believes this strategy backfired by giving El-Sayed a foil he would use again in the general election. Michigan is home to one of the largest Arab American populations in the US. A Fox News poll cited by Axios found that 55 percent of Michigan voters oppose continued US aid to Israel. El-Sayed is a vocal critic of Israel, having called it a rogue state, accused it of genocide and apartheid, and declined to affirm its right to exist as a Jewish state.

Vice President JD Vance attacked El-Sayed over past remarks, claiming El-Sayed once argued criticisms of Sharia law were rooted in white supremacy and that the US should have Sharia law. El-Sayed's team previously stated he believes in the separation of church and state and opposes incorporating faith laws into the laws of this country.