Fact-checking Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens' claims ahead of the Michigan Democratic Senate primary

Michigan Democrats are heading to the polls on August 4 to select their nominee for the U.S. Senate, with the primary race between former public health official Abdul El-Sayed and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens exposing deep intra-party rifts. The contest is largely defined by differing views on U.S.-Israel relations and the broader direction of the Democratic Party in a crucial battleground state. El-Sayed, running as an outsider with support from progressive lawmakers like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has been critical of U.S. aid to Israel, describing the Gaza war as a "genocide" and advocating for a cutoff of military assistance. Stevens, a center-left Democrat endorsed by outgoing Sen. Gary Peters, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, supports Israel's right to exist and calls for a two-state solution, while also criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This election is considered a key race for Democrats aiming to regain control of the Senate, making Michigan's seat a near necessity for their majority. Over one million Michigan voters have already cast ballots, primarily by mail, ahead of the August 4 primary. The race has also seen significant external influence, with AIPAC and its affiliated groups reportedly spending close to $30 million on pro-Stevens and anti-El-Sayed advertising, described as the largest AIPAC investment in a single race.

“

genocide

Fact-checking efforts have addressed specific claims made by the candidates. El-Sayed asserted that a poll showing Stevens with a slight lead was "funded by AIPAC." However, the Democratic polling firm Tavern Research, which conducted the poll, stated it was independently funded and provided no evidence linking AIPAC to it. Conversely, Stevens accurately responded "No" when asked if she had taken donations from two major Michigan utility companies for her Senate campaign. While her House campaign committee did receive donations from corporate PACs affiliated with DTE Energy and Consumers Energy in March 2025, she later transferred those funds to her Senate campaign after its launch.

“

No