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Mike Rogers Asks AIPAC Not to Advertise in Michigan Senate Race

Politics10 sourcesAug 23, 2026
ContestedRigor 5810 sources

The Story

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.

The Spread

What they agree on

  • Allies of Mike Rogers, Michigan's Republican Senate nominee, have asked AIPAC not to run advertisements on his behalf.
  • AIPAC had prepared a video ad targeting Rogers' Democratic rival, Abdul El-Sayed, but shelved it after Rogers' request.
  • AIPAC had spent over $30 million in the Democratic primary in an unsuccessful effort to defeat Abdul El-Sayed.
  • Abdul El-Sayed is a vocal critic of Israel and made AIPAC's spending a central theme of his primary campaign.
  • The request from Rogers' team highlights concerns that public support from AIPAC could be a liability in the November 3 election.

Where they split

  • The Washington Examiner focuses on Abdul El-Sayed's struggle to gain support from black voters in Wayne County, a detail not covered by other outlets.
  • Mediaite and RedState include Vice President JD Vance's criticisms of Abdul El-Sayed regarding past remarks on Sharia law, which is less prominent in other coverage.
  • Middle East Eye and Axios frame the tension as a "rupture" with AIPAC and emphasize the group's falling political standing due to anger over the war in Gaza.
  • Twitchy includes social media reactions to Abdul El-Sayed's response to a Trump reminder about one of his top supporters, a specific interaction not detailed elsewhere.

Source Perspectives

Left4 sources
Center1 source
Right5 sources