Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens, competing for the Democratic Senate nomination in Michigan, faced off in a heated debate a week before the August 4 primary. The debate focused on AIPAC spending, immigration policies, and a controversial analogy.
Abdul El-Sayed clarified that the 'ogre on a pike' analogy raised during the debate was not directed at his opponent Haley Stevens, but at Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman. El-Sayed claimed that Fetterman abandoned his values after being elected. Despite Michigan Representative Hillary Scholten calling the remarks a 'violent, crude threat,' El-Sayed did not apologize.
AIPAC's $46 Million in Support
The most contentious moments of the debate came over AIPAC-linked groups spending more than $46 million in outside money in favor of Haley Stevens. Abdul El-Sayed attributed this to Stevens' credibility on Israel policies, saying, 'AIPAC supports Stevens because they know she will be a reliable vote.'
El-Sayed criticized Stevens' approval of additional aid to Israel, saying, 'We should not be involved in the foolish wars that AIPAC wants to drag us into,' and claimed the aid was 'used to kill children and women.' Stevens reiterated her support for a two-state solution and noted that El-Sayed also benefits from a super PAC funded by his father-in-law.
Tax Returns and Financial Transparency
Haley Stevens criticized her opponent on financial transparency. She alleged that El-Sayed has not released his full tax returns and earned about $300,000 in outside income while podcasting. 'No one still knows who is putting money in El-Sayed's pocket,' Stevens said, accusing him of chasing national fame. El-Sayed stated that he has filed the required financial disclosures.
Opposing Views on the Fate of ICE
On Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the candidates' views diverged completely. Stevens described ICE as a 'rogue agency' and argued for shifting its $70 billion budget to social programs. El-Sayed called the agency 'tyrannical' and called for its complete abolition, opposing 'the normalization of paramilitary force on our streets.'
Filibuster and Calls for Democratic Reform
Abdul El-Sayed called the Senate's 60-vote filibuster rule 'anti-democratic' and called for its elimination. He said this change would pave the way for progressive legislation such as the PRO Act expanding voting rights, antitrust enforcement, and a wealth tax.
After the debate, retired Senator Gary Peters broke his neutrality and announced his support for Haley Stevens. The winner of the August 4 Democratic primary will face Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the November 2025 general election.
