‘He’s Desperate’: AIPAC Begins Spending Against Abdul El-Sayed to Boost Mike Rogers
“You know Mike Rogers is in trouble when he begs AIPAC to start spending against me,” said Abdul El-Sayed, Rogers’ Democratic opponent.
Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers talks with supporters on October 9, 2026 in Highland Township, Michigan.
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Jake Johnson
Oct 10, 2026
COMMON DREAMS
A campaign finance report filed on Friday revealed that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project, has resumed spending on Michigan’s US Senate race, dropping $95,000 on mailers opposing Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in a bid to help Republican Mike Rogers weeks ahead of the key midterm contest.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) report came a day after Rogers and El-Sayed clashed on the debate stage over healthcare, drug prices, military assistance to Israel, and other issues. Asked during the debate whether he would accept AIPAC’s support in the race, Rogers said, “Anybody that wants to help my campaign stop [El-Sayed]... I’ll take all of that help.”
In August, Axios reported that Rogers’ allies asked AIPAC not to advertise on behalf of the Republican candidate, an apparent acknowledgment of the group’s political toxicity amid Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza. Rogers himself spoke with AIPAC’s chair in August, according to Axios, and the group subsequently “shelved an already-cut video ad targeting” El-Sayed.
In response to the FEC report, El-Sayed wrote on social media that “you know Mike Rogers is in trouble when he begs AIPAC to start spending against me.”
“Why do they hate me?” he added. “Because I want to keep your tax money here to spend on your kids rather than spend it to kill kids somewhere else.”
AIPAC’s United Democracy Project (UDP), which has spent aggressively against progressive Democrats across the country in recent elections, poured tens of millions of dollars into El-Sayed’s Democratic primary contest against Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.). The group signaled after El-Sayed’s victory that it was prepared to spend heavily on Rogers’ behalf.
While the new spending on mailers marks UDP’s first financial intervention in the Senate race’s general election, Rogers has attended several fundraising events hosted by AIPAC.
Speaking to reporters at a campaign stop on Friday, Rogers downplayed UDP’s mailer spending and falsely attacked El-Sayed as antisemitic.
“He is so anti-Jewish that one mail piece sends him into orbit,” said Rogers.
The American Prospect’s David Dayen wrote Friday that Rogers “was right when he dissuaded this the first time,” referring to AIPAC campaign spending.
“But he’s desperate now,” Dayen added.
Watch: Bernie Sanders Explains Why El-Sayed ‘Won Last Night’s Michigan Senate Debate’
“I think he did great because it’s impossible for Republican Mike Rogers to defend the most dangerous, reckless, and extreme president in the history of the United States.”
US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is introduced by Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at Mumford High School on May 3, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.
(Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images)
Stephen Prager
Oct 09, 2026
“I think he did great because it’s impossible for Republican Mike Rogers to defend the most dangerous, reckless, and extreme president in the history of the United States.”
US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is introduced by Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at Mumford High School on May 3, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.
(Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images)
Stephen Prager
Oct 09, 2026
COMMON DREAMS
Sen. Bernie Sanders said Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed decisively “won” Thursday night’s contentious Senate debate with Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers, whom he leveled with attacks on his support for President Donald Trump’s unpopular war with Iran and tariff regime.
Two public polls taken after the debate by the Detroit Free Press and WOOD-TV both show three-quarters of voters agreeing that El-Sayed prevailed.
During an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins following the debate, Sanders (I-Vt.), who has enthusiastically backed El-Sayed’s bid for the Senate, argued that there was a simple reason why.
“I think Abdul did great,” Sanders said. “I think he did great because it’s impossible for Republican Mike Rogers to defend the most dangerous, reckless, and extreme president in the history of the United States.”
Watch the full clip below:
The Michigan race is among the most closely watched for the November midterm elections, in which Democrats are trying to reclaim majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Sen. Bernie Sanders said Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed decisively “won” Thursday night’s contentious Senate debate with Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers, whom he leveled with attacks on his support for President Donald Trump’s unpopular war with Iran and tariff regime.
Two public polls taken after the debate by the Detroit Free Press and WOOD-TV both show three-quarters of voters agreeing that El-Sayed prevailed.
During an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins following the debate, Sanders (I-Vt.), who has enthusiastically backed El-Sayed’s bid for the Senate, argued that there was a simple reason why.
“I think Abdul did great,” Sanders said. “I think he did great because it’s impossible for Republican Mike Rogers to defend the most dangerous, reckless, and extreme president in the history of the United States.”
Watch the full clip below:
The Michigan race is among the most closely watched for the November midterm elections, in which Democrats are trying to reclaim majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
No comments:
Post a Comment