Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed spent most of his primary debate against Rep. Haley Stevens criticizing Israel. He blamed the Jewish state for problems ranging from US artificial intelligence policy to the national debt to the state of the Democratic Party under Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer.
Asked whether "we need to regulate AI," El-Sayed claimed he was "being outspent 30-to-1 in this race" and "that money is coming in from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee." He added that this money is used to influence government decisions, highlighting the need for campaign finance reform.
Foreign Policy and the National Debt
In response to another question about the national debt, El-Sayed said the United States needs to "end stupid wars we shouldn't be fighting at the behest of foreign governments." He repeatedly blamed Israel for luring the United States into war in Iran, citing the influence of AIPAC on US foreign policy.
The debate was the first one-on-one faceoff between El-Sayed and Stevens since Democratic state senator Mallory McMorrow dropped out of the race earlier this week. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 4, and the winner will take on Republican Mike Rogers in the general election this fall. El-Sayed leads Stevens by 20 points, according to a poll conducted by a super PAC supporting him.
El-Sayed's campaign has focused on criticizing Israel and AIPAC, accusing the organization of buying off politicians. However, he has avoided criticism of the Iranian regime, sparking controversy among some voters. During the debate, El-Sayed was asked whether he believes the Democratic Party is "shifting" too far to the left, to which he responded by emphasizing the need for a government that represents the people, rather than special interest groups.