Democrat infighting over Israel, USA News (Michigan): Ahead of upcoming US midterm elections, deep-seated divisions within the Democratic Party have broken into open conflict, centered largely around policy toward Israel and an escalating row in Michigan. Congresswoman Haley Stevens publicly attacked Abdul el-Sayed, an epidemiologist running for the US Senate, over a third-party political advertisement funded by Cenk Uygur’s Rebellion Political Action Committee. The ad claimed Michigan families forgo groceries during the affordability crisis because the Trump administration funds Israel for military actions in Gaza.
Stevens, a supporter of Israel and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), criticized Sayed for failing to explicitly condemn the commercial rather than simply stating his campaign was unaffiliated with it. In response, Sayed distanced himself from the ad’s contents and told reporters he instructed Stevens to stay away from his remaining campaign events. Following the exchange, Stevens stunned observers by endorsing Sayed’s Republican rival, Mike Rogers.
Sayed’s candidacy has also faced intense attacks from prominent Republicans, including Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Analysts note that these fractures reflect wider ideological splits in the Democratic Party that date back years, separating left-wing progressives and members of the Democratic Socialists of America from party centrists. While progressives argue the US must cut military funding for Israel, centrists maintain that support must remain ironclad, leaving the party vulnerable to internal warfare that could impact future presidential contests.
