Republican Senate Candidate Mike Rogers Reportedly Asks AIPAC Not to Campaign for Him

Pro-Israel Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has reportedly asked the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) not to run campaign advertisements on his behalf, amid concerns that voters could turn against him over the lobby group’s involvement. According to Axios, Rogers asked AIPAC not to spend money supporting his campaign against Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Senate race.

Earlier reports indicated that AIPAC and affiliated groups were considering spending millions of dollars to support Rogers. The pro-Israel lobby has significant influence in US congressional and statewide elections and has spent tens of millions of dollars backing candidates viewed as supportive of Israel.

Rogers is a strong supporter of Israel and has received an endorsement from US President Donald Trump, while El-Sayed is an anti-Israel Democrat who won his party’s primary earlier this month against Haley Stevens. During that primary, AIPAC and affiliated groups, including the United Democracy Project, reportedly spent around $32 million supporting Stevens, who ultimately lost to El-Sayed.