MACKINAC ISLAND ― Michigan’s Democratic candidates for an open U.S. Senate seat squared off in a mostly friendly debate Thursday, May 28, although the three hopeful candidates did disagree on their approaches to a pro-Israel political group and the best way to expand access to health care, among other issues.
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, and former Detroit and Wayne County health executive Abdul El-Sayed participated in a debate at the Mackinac Policy Conference, hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber in conjunction with the Michigan Debate Commission.
Here are some big topics candidates touched on:
AIPAC
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel political action committee that lobbies for U.S. backing of Israel, has become a major issue in the primary race. Critics of Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza and elsewhere say the group has too much influence over American politics, and lawmakers who receive AIPAC support have faced criticism.
Stevens, a member of Congress since being elected in 2018, has received support from the group, while El-Sayed has been heavily critical of AIPAC and Israel’s government. McMorrow has also criticized AIPAC.
During the debate, moderator Stephen Henderson of PBS Detroit asked candidates if support from major donors would factor into their decision-making as a lawmaker. When posing the question to Stevens, he mentioned AIPAC support.
Stevens didn’t answer the question about AIPAC support directly, but said voters desire changes to how political campaigns are funded.
“Michiganders are frustrated because we have not done comprehensive campaign finance reform. (Republican Senate candidate) Mike Rogers won’t vote for comprehensive campaign finance reform,” Stevens said.
Stevens also avoided answering a question about AIPAC support at a previous debate in April.
El-Sayed, standing to Stevens’ left, said Stevens didn’t answer the question. He said when it came down to have more money from a donor, or standing on his message, he’d choose his message every time.
To which McMorrow got a dig in.
“Messages are great, but you need to know how to actually deliver on them,” she said.
AI
McMorrow has pitched voters on her track record as a lawmaker in the Michigan Legislature, something she says gives her a leg to stand on to prove to voters she can accomplish her campaign’s goals. She recently unveiled an artificial intelligence platform, which includes calling for safety reviews of AI models before they’re released to the public and limiting the export of semiconductor chips that power AI.
El-Sayed also compared AI to a “tsunami” threatening American workers. He criticized McMorrow for voting (along with other Democrats and some Republicans) in the Michigan Legislature in 2023 for tax breaks for data center developers in Michigan. Demand for data centers has grown as AI usage accelerates. McMorrow, speaking to reporters following the debate, noted companies have to follow environmental regulations in order to qualify for the tax breaks.
Stevens spoke about the need for advanced manufacturing businesses in Michigan, and said legislation like the CHIPS Act she helped draft in 2022 was key to ensuring the state’s industrial sector is competitive.
“We are one of five states left in this country whose central economy is driven through the industrial sector,” Stevens said.
Health care
Following the debate, El-Sayed expressed frustration over the debate not including a question focusing on health care. El-Sayed has championed Medicare for All, a universal health care strategy.
“Maybe it’s just because I’m a doctor, but everything I hear is like ‘I cannot afford my health care.’ When you think about your paycheck, who eats first? Health care … the fact that we didn’t get a question about that to me was a little bit astounding,” he said.
Although a health care-focused question wasn’t raised to the group, moderator Nolan Finley of the Detroit News did ask McMorrow if she had a plan to combat rising health costs. McMorrow called for the restoration of health premium subsidies previously in place under the Affordable Care Act and had pointed criticism for Medicare for All.
“Our residents simply can’t afford to wait. People can’t afford to wait for a revolution that may never come,” McMorrow said. “We have options on the table right now to lower prescription drug costs, to restore (ACA) premiums.”
El-Sayed said he was the only candidate on the stage who had not taken money from PACs affiliated with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, one of Michigan’s largest health insurers.
Winning this fall
Rogers, a former member of Congress who is running unopposed in the Republican primary, narrowly lost to U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, in his first run for Senate in 2024. McMorrow and Stevens have pitched themselves as best suited to defeat Rogers in the fall ― Stevens has noted she’s won tough Congressional races in the past, and McMorrow has raised her flipping a Republican-controlled state Senate district.
“Michigan is the most important Senate race in the country,” McMorrow said.
Stevens said she has legislation prepared for day one, should she be elected.
“We have got to make sure Michigan is heard at the lawmaking table,” Stevens said. “We have got to act for our state now. We have got to collaborate and grow.”
El-Sayed, who is the most progressive candidate in the field, said his campaign is positioned to reach across partisan divides and tap into frustration from voters over rising costs.
“We have an opportunity to find like-minded Republicans who understand their people, too, are getting picked apart,” he said.
Rogers didn’t participate in the debate, but was given a platform at the conference. During a discussion with WOOD-TV reporter Rick Albin, Rogers highlighted ongoing educational issues, like worsening literacy rates, as potentially existential problems leaders in Michigan must address.
“If we don’t get this education piece fixed, all these other conversations aren’t going to come along afterward,” Rogers said. He also said Michigan companies need to be front and center when it comes to defense manufacturing and called for policies keeping Chinese vehicles away from the American market.
“The biggest existential threat to the automotive industry is China producing vehicles in the United States,” Rogers said.
The Democratic Senate nominee will be decided during the August statewide primary on Tuesday, Aug. 4. It’s considered a closely contested race, and the Real Clear Polling average as of May 28 gives El-Sayed a 4.5 percentage point lead.
The seat is up for grabs after Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, announced last year he would not seek reelection.
You can reach Arpan Lobo at alobo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Democratic Senate candidates vie for support in Mackinac debate
Reporting by Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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