By The Washington Times (Politics) | Created at 2026-08-05 18:21:17 | Updated at 2026-08-05 20:14:07
2 hours ago
AIPAC signaled Wednesday that it is far from finished trying to stop Democrat Abdul El‑Sayed from becoming Michigan’s next senator, making clear it intends to carry its fight into the general election.
The American-Israel advocacy group said its members “remain determined to ensure that voters reject Dr. El‑Sayed and his radical anti‑Israel agenda in November,” while touting 30 pro‑Israel candidates who won primaries Tuesday in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia and Washington.
Mr. El‑Sayed, who is seeking to become the first Muslim in the Senate, survived more than $30 million in spending from AIPAC’s United Democracy Project super PAC, which tried to boost Rep. Haley Stevens and derail his bid in the Democratic primary.
AIPAC has become a lightning rod in races across the country, with left‑wing candidates and activists arguing the group wields outsized influence and enables what they see as Israel’s destructive military campaign in Gaza.
Mr. El‑Sayed said AIPAC is part of a broader problem of money in politics, saying wealthy corporations and individuals use their financial muscle to back candidates who, in his view, are then forced to prioritize their interests over working‑class taxpayers.
He also said AIPAC did not have a partisan preference, as long as Ms. Stevens or former Rep. Mike Rogers, the GOP nominee, won the seat.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Mr. El-Sayed, said the AIPAC press release proves his point.
“I appreciate AIPAC proving it doesn’t belong in the Dem Party and especially our primaries,” she said on X. “AIPAC is an org committed to undermining democracy at home and abroad.”
She concluded, “See you in November.”
AIPAC said that while it is disappointed some of its preferred candidates lost, it remains proud to support pro‑Israel Democrats and Republicans and is encouraged by voters’ continued backing of a strong U.S.-Israel partnership.
It added that “millions of American citizens will keep working to help elect pro‑Israel leaders and to help defeat anti‑Israel detractors between now and November, and in many cycles ahead.”
