Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed calls AIPAC donations ‘legalized bribery’ and blames Israel for U.S. foreign‑p​

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed has repeatedly denounced contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, calling them “legalized bribery” and alleging that AIPAC influences U.S. wars. In a July 2026 primary debate he claimed Israel drives American conflicts, saying the U.S. must “end stupid wars we shouldn’t be fighting at the behest of foreign governments.”

El‑Sayed also faced scrutiny over past remarks on police funding. A 2020 interview in which he advocated “defunding the police” resurfaced; he later clarified that he supports redirecting resources to community services and mental‑health professionals rather than a blanket budget cut. The candidate’s stance has become a central theme of the Michigan Senate race, where he leads primary rival Rep. Haley Stevens.

His comments have drawn criticism for linking domestic policy debates to foreign‑policy grievances and for associating campaign financing with alleged foreign influence.