The Michigan Senate Race Heats Up Over Israel

Jul 28, 2026

Michigan's Democratic Senate primary has turned into a fight over who is most pro-Israel, a bad look for candidates as most Democratic voters have soured on the war in Gaza.

  • Candidate Haley Stevens leaned hard into pro-Israel messaging, and a rival campaign built a mocking website looping her past remarks about fighting for Israel.
  • Stevens is walking back her tone, now calling Netanyahu's handling of the war a failure that made Jews less safe.
  • Netanyahu still attacked her as not supportive enough, showing there is no level of loyalty that satisfies him.
  • Stevens has taken heavy funding from pro-Israel groups, which critics say explains her stance more than Michigan voters do.
  • Rival Abdul El-Sayed drew fire for refusing to flatly say Israel has a right to exist.

Outlook: With most Democratic voters against the war, candidates leaning pro-Israel risk a backlash heading into the primary.

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