AIPAC-linked super PAC spends $95,000 on Michigan Senate mailers
United Democracy Project reported $95,000 in mail spending against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed after sitting out Michigan’s general election.
By Sal Moretti · Money Reporter
2 min read
An AIPAC-linked super PAC has put $95,000 into the Michigan Senate race, paying for mailers opposing Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, according to a Federal Election Commission filing reported by NBC News. The AIPAC Michigan Senate spending is the United Democracy Project's first reported general-election involvement after it stayed out of the contest until now.
The expenditure is for mail, not television or digital advertising, and does not establish whether the group plans further spending. United Democracy Project is tied to the pro-Israel group AIPAC, NBC News reported.
What is United Democracy Project spending in Michigan?
The $95,000 outlay funds mail pieces aimed at 130,000 Jewish voters, according to United Democracy Project spokesperson Patrick Dorton. NBC News reviewed a copy of one mailer that referred to the March attack on a Michigan synagogue and cited El-Sayed's response at the time: “Hurt people hurt people.”
The FBI had described the synagogue attack as a Hezbollah-inspired act of terrorism, NBC News reported. El-Sayed apologized in late August, saying his remarks may have been understood as justifying something he did not intend to justify.
That new bill is far below the group’s primary-season spending. AdImpact figures cited by NBC News put United Democracy Project's primary spending at $33 million, directed against El-Sayed and in support of his Democratic primary rival, Rep. Haley Stevens. Politico separately described the total as more than $30 million.
Rogers says he would accept AIPAC help
El-Sayed is facing former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election. At their Oct. 8 debate, Rogers said he would welcome assistance from AIPAC when asked about prior reporting that some of his allies had urged the group not to advertise in the race.
“Anybody that wants to help my campaign stop” El-Sayed, Rogers said, “I’ll take all of that help,” according to Politico.
The candidates also sparred over U.S. military support for Israel. Rogers said he supported Israel’s right to defend itself, while El-Sayed said he did not want U.S. tax money used to purchase weapons for other countries, Politico reported.
The mail spending puts United Democracy Project back in a race where Israel and U.S. policy toward the country have already been central campaign issues. For now, the filing documents a limited mail purchase targeting El-Sayed, rather than a broader advertising push.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.