Pro-Israel Republican Senate Candidate Asks AIPAC Not to Support Him Publicly

Mike Rogers, a pro-Israel Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, has requested that the influential pro-Israel lobby AIPAC refrain from publicly endorsing his campaign. This unusual move was reported by Axios on August 23, 2026, and reflects a decline in AIPAC's standing, with some viewing the organization as a liability in political races. Rogers and his team believe that AIPAC's public support could inadvertently strengthen his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, who is a vocal critic of Israel.

Rogers spoke with AIPAC chairman Michael Totchin in Los Angeles last week, after which AIPAC shelved a pre-produced video attack ad targeting El-Sayed. Rogers' team argued that AIPAC's involvement in the Democratic primaries, where El-Sayed defeated a pro-Israel candidate, backfired by giving El-Sayed a winning argument. Despite AIPAC's significant investment of over $30 million in the primaries and plans to spend tens of millions more in the general election, Rogers sought to distance himself from the lobby's overt involvement.

Allies of Rogers suggested alternative ways for AIPAC to support him indirectly, such as directing donors to a supportive fund or working through a joint fundraising entity with the Republican Party. However, AIPAC was displeased with these proposals, insisting on a visible role in defeating El-Sayed, arguing that El-Sayed would link Rogers to the pro-Israel lobby regardless.

The negotiations have stalled, prompting a broader Republican effort to mediate between Rogers and AIPAC, with Jewish Republican donors connected to both sides acting as intermediaries. El-Sayed is known for his sharp criticism of Israel, refusing to acknowledge its right to exist as a Jewish state and comparing it to Hamas. In contrast, Rogers holds firm pro-Israel positions. AIPAC's influence has sharply declined amid growing Democratic Party divisions over Israel, with many candidates attacking the lobby and sometimes invoking antisemitic tropes about "Jewish money" influencing American politics.