A super PAC’s grocery-price ad blaming support for Israel sparked outrage in Michigan, forcing Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate campaign to publicly disavow it while his own sharp critiques of Israel kept the fire burning.
Story Snapshot
- El-Sayed’s campaign said a controversial ad from Rebellion PAC was not affiliated with them.
- The ad’s Israel-price link drew antisemitism accusations and bipartisan backlash.
- El-Sayed has criticized Israel’s conduct and questioned the alliance in recent comments.
- Outside spending on both sides is shaping Michigan’s race and its narratives.
What the campaign says and what the ad claimed
On October 26, the Abdul for Senate campaign told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Rebellion PAC’s ad is “not affiliated in any way” with the campaign and that “No one speaks for Abdul but himself and his campaign.” The spokesperson added that El-Sayed is focused on pushing back on President Trump’s agenda, which they argue is raising prices for Michigan families. Reports say the ad linked rising grocery prices to U.S. support for Israel, a line that drew fast condemnation.
Jewish Insider reported the PAC spent roughly ten thousand dollars on texting and one thousand dollars on digital ads boosting El-Sayed in recent weeks, underscoring the real-world reach of the message even as the campaign denied ties. The New York Times likewise reported the campaign’s distance from the ad while stressing El-Sayed’s vocal criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. These accounts align on the core facts: the ad came from an outside group, and the campaign rejected any link to it.
El-Sayed’s own record on Israel and Gaza
Separate from the ad, El-Sayed has used striking language about Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship. In an ABC News interview cited by Jewish Insider, he said an ally who uses the United States as a shield is not an ally and argued it is time to see that Israel is not a U.S. friend. Other reporting chronicled his use of terms like “genocide” and criticism of unconditional U.S. support, positions that have prompted questions from some Jewish leaders in Michigan.
Those remarks fuel the political overlap between the outside ad and the candidate’s rhetoric, even if they are not the same claim. Critics point to the ad’s message as antisemitic and to El-Sayed’s words as extreme, while the campaign maintains a split: they reject the PAC’s framing and say their own focus is kitchen-table economics and opposition to Trump’s policies. That gap keeps the controversy alive because it ties a moral debate abroad to pocketbook pain at home.
Blowback, pressure, and what voters now face
Backlash came fast. Representative Haley Stevens called the ad fearmongering and said it hurts Democrats in Michigan. Commentary across outlets described the ad as antisemitic because it suggested Israel was to blame for higher food prices. The Hill reported that Michigan rabbis pressed El-Sayed over statements on ethno-states, Israel’s right to exist, Gaza, and aid policy, adding organized faith-based pressure to the campaign trail. These reactions move the fight from online outrage to real voter contact.
At the same time, outside groups on the other side are spending heavily. BridgeMichigan described attacks funded by United Democracy Project, which is affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Newsweek highlighted how money from both pro-Israel and progressive donors is shaping ads and mailers in the state. The combined effect is clear: voters are getting sharp, simplified messages funded by interests far beyond their neighborhoods.
Why this matters beyond one ad
This episode shows how modern campaigns operate under rules that let outside groups spend freely if they do not coordinate with the candidate. That legal gap creates a political gap for voters: candidates can benefit from help while disowning the worst messages. The result is confusion about who is really speaking and who should be held to account for harsh claims tied to sensitive issues like war, identity, and religion.
Abdul El-Sayed's Treasurer Behind Super PAC Pushing Third-Party Libertarian as 'True Conservative' in Michigan Senate Race | Chuck Ross, Washington Free Beacon
Abdul El-Sayed's campaign treasurer is also the treasurer of a shadowy super PAC spending hundreds of thousands of… pic.twitter.com/znUKNN5J6O
— Owen Gregorian (@OwenGregorian) October 23, 2026
For many readers, this hits a nerve that crosses party lines. People on the right see elites using dark money to push divisive culture fights instead of lowering prices and securing the border. People on the left see big spenders steering debate away from policy toward labels that shut people up. Both see a system that protects insiders while families struggle with bills. Clear records, full disclaimers, and on-the-record answers would help voters judge messages that use their fear and anger as fuel.
Sources:
twitchy.com, jta.org, jewishinsider.com, bridgemi.com, thehill.com, theatlantic.com, sunherald.com
