Full Breakdown
Controversial Ads Define the Closing Stretch of Michigan’s Senate Race
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Two high-profile advertisements supporting Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed have ignited intense debate in Michigan. One ad, produced by Rebellion PAC and featuring a grocery-store scene that blames U.S. aid to Israel for rising food prices, was denounced as antisemitic. A second ad, titled “Red Hat,” airs on Fox News and Newsmax and repurposes clips of conservative pundits praising El-Sayed while attacking his Republican opponent Mike Rogers. Both ads have drawn sharp criticism and prompted defensive statements from campaign officials and outside organizations.
Background & Context
The Michigan Senate seat is open after Sen. Gary Peters announced retirement, making the race one of the nation’s most expensive contests. El-Sayed, a former public-health official, won the Democratic primary over Rep. Haley Stevens and now faces Rogers, a former U.S. Representative endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The campaign’s ad strategy reflects a broader effort to attract swing voters in a state that has not elected a Republican senator since 1994.
Data & Statistics
- Ad spending: Combined expenditures by the two campaigns have exceeded $180 million in the past week, according to campaign finance reports.
- U.S. aid to Israel: The Rebellion PAC spot references the United States providing $4 billion annually to Israel, plus an alleged additional $26 billion.
- Consumer prices: The ad cites a per-person cost of $161 for “dropping bombs on Gaza.” National data show gas prices averaging $4.29 per gallon, up $1.24 from the previous year (AAA). The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports average egg prices of $2.27 per dozen and banana prices of $0.66 per pound, each roughly unchanged from the prior month.
- Election timeline: Michigan’s early in-person voting began in late October, and the election is scheduled for November 3.
Official Statements & Responses
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) labeled the ad a “case study in antisemitism,” saying it scapegoats the Jewish state for domestic economic issues.
Criticism & Opposition
- ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt warned that blaming the price of bananas on Israel exemplifies “desperate” scapegoating.
- Joel Petlin, superintendent of the Kiryas Joel School District, compared the ad’s tone to “the original 1938 German version.”
- Jonah Goldberg, editor-in-chief of *The Dispatch*, described the Rebellion PAC spot as “dumb and bigoted at scale.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “You want to know what desperate looks like?” — ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt
- “My name is Abdul El-Sayed. You might have heard a bit about me,” — Abdul El-Sayed
Why It Matters
The ads illustrate how both parties are leveraging controversial messaging to sway undecided voters in a pivotal swing state. By linking foreign aid to domestic cost-of-living concerns, the Rebellion PAC ad attempts to frame U.S. foreign policy as a direct economic burden on Michigan families. Conversely, the “Red Hat” ad co-opts conservative rhetoric, signaling a willingness among some Democrats to adopt cross-ideological language to win a historically Democratic seat.
What’s Next
The six-figure ad buy will continue on Fox News and Newsmax through Election Day on November 3. Both campaigns are expected to intensify outreach in the final days, with former President Trump slated to campaign for Rogers and former President Obama having already appeared with El-Sayed. The outcome will determine whether Michigan’s Senate seat flips Republican for the first time in three decades.