In Michigan, the Democratic Senate primary is coming into sharper focus as both remaining candidates clashed on multiple issues during a Tuesday night debate with less than one month to go in their campaigns.Former Wayne County Health Director Abdul el Sayed primarily attacked Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) on the influence that corporate money interests and Israeli lobbyists hold over her campaign. Stevens defended herself by claiming the GOP is spending money to “prop up” el Sayed’s campaign because he will be an easier candidate for Republican candidate Mike Rogers to defeat in November.
Here are the biggest issues that were brought up by the two candidates:Corporate money takes center stage
When the debate opened, el Sayed and Stevens immediately criticized each other. Stevens called her primary opponent a “celebrity senator,” saying Michigan voters “need a workhorse” instead. El Sayed shot back, accusing her of being “bought off by corporations.”Stevens also claimed el Sayed is a “millionaire,” pointing to his refusal to disclose his personal wealth as proof. El Sayed directed attention away from himself, bringing up corporate money again.“The question is not whether or not you’re a millionaire,” he said. “The question is whether or not you are bowing down to billionaires.”Stevens has benefited from donations by health insurance company Cigna, kidney dialysis services giant DaVita, asset management firm BlackRock, and weapons and technology manufacturer Axon Enterprise. She has also benefited from outside groups’ funding advertisements to cast her in a positive light.Despite the accusations, the centrist congresswoman insists “no one owns” her vote or her policies.Meanwhile, el Sayed prided himself on not taking money from corporations. It’s why he’s become popular among the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, demonstrated by his endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Many anti-establishment Democrat candidates this election cycle have seen success using the same types of messaging as el Sayed.The former public health official name-dropped McMorrow during the debate, saying she was committed to eliminating corporate influence in national politics like him.“Mallory was clear that she wanted to reject the power of corporate money and AIPAC money and Chuck Schumer in our politics,” he said. “I want to reject the power of corporate money, AIPAC money, and Chuck Schumer in our politics.”Israel and AIPAC
