U.S. Senate Debate: Antisemitism, Billionaire Taxes & Stevens' AIPAC Donors

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/28/2026) (MACKINAC ISLAND) – During the Democrats' U.S. Senate debate, Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) said there is an antisemitism problem in the Democratic Party, noting that a state convention attendee yelled an "antisemitic slur" at her Jewish husband in April.

She said her husband was walking with their 5-year-old daughter at the Michigan Democratic Party's (MDP's) endorsement convention when the incident happened.

"That is terrifying. We need to be able to state very clearly that what the Netanyahu government is doing is wrong, that the violence needs to end, that we need to bring about long-term peace and security for Palestinians and for Israelis. Turning that anti-Netanyahu message into an anti-American Jewish message is dangerous," McMorrow said, also confirming to debate moderators she would support a federal resolution to block American offensive arms sales to Israel.

Thursday afternoon, the Detroit Regional Chamber hosted a Democratic U.S. Senate debate as part of their Mackinac Policy Conference.

Inside the historic Grand Hotel's auditorium, the nearly hour-long conversation was moderated by Nolan Finley – editorial page editor for The Detroit News – and Stephen Henderson, BridgeDetroit's executive advisor.

On top of McMorrow calling out antisemitic language at the MDP's April convention, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Wayne County's former health director and 2018 gubernatorial candidate, took hits at the event's business-world audience members and his opponents' corporate-class donors.

El-Sayed asked the audience if they really think excess money to billionaires makes jobs, explaining he would like to tax billionaires 7% of "their wealth" to invest revenue into unlocking "human capital, like health care and good schools and functional infrastructure."

"I would like to see us tax billionaires at 7% of their wealth. Here's the thing: You tax a billionaire 7-8%, they are still a billionaire."

McMorrow tried to raise awareness of her state Senate legislation prohibiting corporations from repurchasing their own stock on the open market if they receive loans, grants, tax exemptions or other incentives from the Michigan government.

In response, El-Sayed questioned why such corporations were being incentivized to begin with.

McMorrow also pushed back on El-Sayed's "Medicare For All" message, saying that residents cannot afford to wait for such massive reform when other affordable healthcare options are on the table right now.

"One of my constituents shared that she outright canceled her health insurance plan. Her premiums went from $200 a month to $2,000," she said, noting possible reforms to tighten prescription drug costs, restoring tax credits to insurers selling coverage on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace and making Medicare an opt-in program for seniors to push insurers to break costs down.

As a reaction, El-Sayed asked participants to play a game where they raised their hand if they've never accepted donations from Blue Cross Blue Shield, one of the conference's major sponsors.

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) was directly asked on stage about accepting donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the controversial pro-Israel 501(c)4 that does not have to publicly disclose its funders.

Stevens said her campaign was a "love letter to our state," with grassroots support from grocery clerks, retired teachers and factory workers, as well as support from former Gov. Jennifer Granholm and past U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the Lansing Democrat.

"Michiganders are frustrated because we have not done comprehensive campaign finance reform," Stevens said. "Campaigns are about movements of ideas, and I articulate positions of freedom and democracy, and what Michigan needs to succeed at the global stage…"

From there, El-Sayed interrupted her, saying "you're also just not answering the question."

Following the debate, candidates came into the conference's media center to speak to about 20 reporters. However, Stevens left as the press started circling El-Sayed and McMorrow.

Stepping in as her surrogate was Caitlin Legacki, a consultant to the campaign.

"She was here, and we stood here for a couple of minutes and nobody seemed to want to have any questions, so she headed up to her room," Legacki said. "I think she's trying to catch the ferry . . . she's been here for three days, and she's excited to get home."

When asked why Stevens did not more directly answer the AIPAC question, Legacki said, "I think she just had a hard time hearing . . . I can't go back and like, replay it in my head, but I think she was the second or third (response), and it was asked a little awkwardly, but she's been very clear about her position."