Center for Democratic Priorities Pours $5.3 Million Into Michigan Senate Race To Defend Haley Stevens

A newly formed political group called the Center for Democratic Priorities is pouring $5.3 million into Michigan television markets to defend Democratic Senate candidate Haley Stevens’ immigration record, according to WLNS 6 News.

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Detroit Metro Times

WLNS 6 News says the group reserved airtime across the Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint and Traverse City markets and that the ads cast Stevens as a champion of ICE accountability, promoting legislation she introduced to create an independent special prosecutor to investigate misconduct at the Department of Homeland Security.

Nbsla.ca

The Detroit News similarly reports that the Center for Democratic Priorities reserved an estimated $5.3 million in media markets around Michigan to air advertisements touting Stevens’ work to "hold ICE accountable," with the ad narrator saying, "Haley Stevens in Michigan is calling for new federal oversight of immigration enforcement."

Both outlets tie the ad messaging to Stevens’ own statements, with the Detroit News describing a spot using a clip of Stevens saying, "This is about accountability for an agency that hasn't had any."

The controversy centers on whether the Center for Democratic Priorities is connected to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, with WLNS 6 News reporting that AIPAC publicly stated it is not funding the Center for Democratic Priorities.

WLNS 6 News also says Stevens’ campaign did not respond to a request for comment and that El-Sayed suggested the group was funded by AIPAC, quoting El-Sayed campaign spokesperson Roxie Richner saying, "Michiganders will see through this clear attempt to buy this race for Congresswoman Stevens."

The Detroit News

The Detroit News likewise reports that Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor suggested without evidence that the group sponsoring the ad might be funded by AIPAC and notes that they at least share a vendor, Waterfront Strategies.

In paperwork filed with TV stations, the Detroit News says a board officer for the Center for Democratic Priorities was listed as John Jones, and it adds that the same name appeared as treasurer for Blue Wave Action, which spent $2.3 million in Michigan’s 13th District Democratic primary against Democratic challengers to U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar of Detroit.

The ad buy is arriving as Stevens faces criticism from Democratic primary rivals over immigration enforcement and related political donations, with the Detroit News saying the new spot comes after Stevens was criticized for taking campaign donations from federal contractors equipping or arming immigration enforcement agents and for a House vote in 2025 expressing "gratitude" to ICE agents.

“Mystery group spending $5M to boost Stevens in Michigan Senate primary A mystery dark money group on Friday reserved an estimated $5”

The Detroit News

The Detroit News reports that the resolution also condemned the June 1 antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, and it quotes Stevens defending her vote: "I take antisemitic violence very seriously, and I will always vote to condemn it," told The News in January.

Rival state Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak is also cited by the Detroit News for claiming the dark-money group is coming in to help Stevens, with McMorrow saying, "Why now? Because I called out Haley Stevens ... ," in a video posted to social media.

WLNS 6 News adds that McMorrow’s campaign criticized Stevens over a June vote on a House resolution that passed 280-113 and expressed gratitude to ICE agents for protecting the homeland, while also condemning an antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado.