Michigan GOP Senate Candidate Distances from AIPAC Amid Race Concerns
Allies of Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, have asked the American Israel Public Affairs Committee not to run advertisements supporting his campaign. The request has created a rift with the influential pro-Israel organization.
Rogers’ team made the move after concluding that AIPAC’s earlier spending in the primary had proved counterproductive.
Officials worried that open association with the group could alienate voters in a state that includes a sizable Arab American population and where public opposition to U.S. aid for Israel remains elevated following developments in Gaza.
AIPAC had prepared advertisements targeting Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who has sharply criticized Israeli policy. Those plans were set aside after discussions with Rogers’ representatives. The Republican candidate himself maintains a strong pro-Israel record, yet his campaign judged that visible AIPAC involvement posed greater political risk than benefit in the general election.
