Story perspectives

Stevens, El-Sayed Clash Over AIPAC Money, Poll Tied

7/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

In Tuesday’s Grand Rapids debate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed accused Rep. Haley Stevens of American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and corporate PAC financing while Stevens highlighted bills after State Sen. Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign on July 5, leaving the two as contenders.
Stevens and El-Sayed receive $10 million from AIPAC and $6 million from the Center for Democratic Priorities, respectively.
A July 8 Politico poll gave Stevens 42 % and El-Sayed 41 % (2.5-point margin).

History

Historical Context

After Watergate, the 1974 FECA amendments created soft-money loopholes that grew through the 1990s. Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold responded with the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, signed by President George W. Bush and effective January 1 2003, to ban soft money and restrict electioneering ads. The 2010 Citizens United decision and Speechnow.org ruling then allowed unlimited independent-expenditure groups, reviving large-scale fundraising.

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Story summary

In Tuesday’s Grand Rapids debate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed accused Rep. Haley Stevens of American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and corporate PAC financing while Stevens highlighted bills after State Sen. Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign on July 5, leaving the two as contenders.
Stevens and El-Sayed receive $10 million from AIPAC and $6 million from the Center for Democratic Priorities, respectively.
A July 8 Politico poll gave Stevens 42 % and El-Sayed 41 % (2.5-point margin).

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