Senator Bernie Sanders donated $1 million on Wednesday to support Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, in response to a reported $9 million expenditure by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) aimed at defeating El-Sayed. The contribution was part of a broader effort by Sanders and his allies to counterbalance AIPAC’s significant spending, which is backing Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate.
Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont known for his progressive stance, described the $9 million outlay as “outrageous” and said he was actively encouraging other progressive supporters to contribute. By the end of Wednesday, his campaign had secured commitments totaling approximately $300,000 from a group of Democratic senators, including Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, and Jeff Merkley of Oregon. Sanders acknowledged that these funds fell well short of AIPAC’s spending but emphasized the symbolic importance of standing with El-Sayed’s campaign and supporting democratic engagement.
Earlier this month, Sanders had already contributed $250,000 to the Abdul for Michigan Victory Fund, a joint initiative involving El-Sayed’s campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee. Sanders entered October with more than $22 million in his campaign treasury, positioning him among the best-funded senators.
The AIPAC investment in the Michigan Senate race marks a rare move for the pro-Israel lobbying group, which typically refrains from endorsing candidates in general elections. The organization reportedly is supporting Mike Rogers, a former U.S. congressman who won the Republican nomination. During an October 8 debate, Rogers openly indicated he would welcome assistance from AIPAC.
El-Sayed’s race has drawn attention from prominent progressives aside from Sanders. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York recently contributed $1 million to El-Sayed’s campaign while campaigning alongside the candidate in Michigan.
The confrontation between Sanders and AIPAC reflects longstanding tensions over U.S. policy toward Israel and the Middle East. Sanders has repeatedly criticized AIPAC’s influence and the Democratic Party’s stance, framing it as a struggle over the party’s future. On social media, Sanders charged that “AIPAC is why we’re at war in Iran,” a statement that prompted a sarcastic response from AIPAC’s official account dismissing Sanders’s remarks as “obsessive scapegoating.”
Sanders rejected this characterization, asserting that his critique was grounded in fact. He also highlighted dissatisfaction among American voters with continued financial support for the current Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which Sanders referred to as “extremist.” The escalating financial involvement by interest groups and high-profile political figures underscores the high stakes and national attention focused on Michigan’s closely watched Senate contest.