DEARBORN, MICHIGAN — Abdul El-Sayed held a campaign rally in Dearborn, Michigan, on July 31, 2026, as he seeks to unseat incumbent Congresswoman Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. The race features policy contrasts on Israel and Gaza, endorsements from opposing factions of the Democratic Party, and more than $50 million in outside spending by pro-Israel groups supporting Stevens.

El-Sayed is a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Michigan, positioning himself against Stevens, who represents Michigan's 11th congressional district. If El-Sayed wins the August 4 primary, he will become the Democratic nominee to succeed retiring Senator Gary Peters and face Republican candidate former Representative Mike Rogers in the general election.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other pro-Israel groups spent more than $50 million supporting Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary against Abdul El-Sayed. This level of spending follows a pattern established in 2022, when AIPAC spent millions to help Haley Stevens defeat Democrat Andy Levin in that year's primary election.

El-Sayed campaigned on a pledge to invest in local communities instead of foreign wars. He argues that the US has spent too much on conflicts that benefit Israel and believes funds currently spent on foreign conflicts should be used to address healthcare and affordable housing in the US. His campaign motto is money out of politics, money in your pocket, and Medicare for all. El-Sayed has denounced Israel’s war on Gaza, which he recognizes as a genocide.

Stevens accused Abdul El-Sayed of disproportionately focusing on foreign policy. She emphasizes her support for Israel's existence and security, having voted against an effort to cut off funding for Israel in July 2026. In 2024, Stevens voted with House Republicans to ban the Department of State from citing the Palestinian death toll provided by health officials in Gaza.

During a Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony in 2023, Stevens said, "Israel comes to me in my dreams. I see Israel’s future. And I know that Israel will continue to exist for the Jewish people."

The candidates have drawn endorsements from prominent national figures. Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic primary. On the other side, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer endorsed Haley Stevens.

Local support in Dearborn has mobilized around El-Sayed. Abdullah Hammoud, the Mayor of Dearborn, urged participation in the election. "I understand why people might be apathetic to the political system and how it’s unfolded, but I still think it is incumbent upon us to participate in the democratic process," Hammoud said in an interview.

He added, "We have to take it into our hands. Drive out the vote, making sure that we’re electing candidates up and down the ticket who are there to fight for working families and who share a set of values that can be applied globally." Kamal Alsawafy, a City Council Member in Dearborn, also voiced support. "It means using our tax dollars where they should be used to fund and fix our crumbling roads, not sending our tax dollars to crumble somebody else’s home overseas," Alsawafy said. "So it’s about priorities, and that’s why we’re trying to make the right decision and vote for Abdul El-Sayed."

El-Sayed is a doctor and public health advocate with a history of public service in the state. He served as the health director of Detroit before running for governor in 2018. He later became the head of the Wayne County Department of Health in 2023.

El-Sayed left his position as head of the Wayne County Department of Health in 2025 to launch his Senate bid. Stevens was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018, when she defeated a Republican incumbent.

Why It Matters

The race tests whether a candidate prioritizing domestic investment over foreign military aid can overcome more than $50 million in outside spending by pro-Israel groups. This contest follows a pattern established in 2022, when similar expenditures helped defeat a progressive challenger in a Michigan primary. The outcome will determine if the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate from Michigan advocates for redirecting conflict funds to healthcare and housing or maintains current funding levels for Israel.