Can a Pro-Israel Democrat Still Win a Big Primary? She’s Going to Try Representative Haley Stevens faces a daunting challenge in securing victory in Michigan’s pivotal Senate primary, where Democratic voters’ growing skepticism toward Israel has become a defining issue. As a moderate congresswoman backed by Washington-based Democratic leaders and a major pro-Israel super PAC, Stevens is attempting to defy a trend in which progressive candidates have recently ousted mainstream Democrats in high-profile primary contests. Her campaign hinges on balancing support for Israel with the broader Democratic Party’s stance on Middle East policy, a delicate task in a state where anti-Israel sentiment has surged following the Gaza war. Stevens, a member of Congress since 2018, has positioned herself as a staunch advocate for maintaining U.S. military aid to Israel without conditions. She has also consistently denied allegations of genocide in Gaza, a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from progressive opponents. Her campaign has received significant financial backing from pro-Israel groups, including over $28 million in advertising support from the nation’s leading pro-Israel super PAC, according to AdImpact, a media tracking firm. Despite her public calls for an end to “dark money” in politics, she has also accepted $20 million in undisclosed donations from four other super PACs, further complicating her image as a reformer. The primary race, set for August 4, pits Stevens against Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive former public health official who has become one of the Democratic Party’s most vocal critics of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.#haley_stevens #dr_abdul_el_sayed #pro_israel_super_pac #michigan_senate_primary #gaza_war
