During the final Democratic debate preceding the Michigan primary, the role of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) became a dominant subject of discussion. The debate centered on the influence of outside spending in the race, with candidate Abdul El-Sayed actively highlighting AIPAC’s financial contributions as a primary concern for voters. El-Sayed has framed the group's involvement as a significant issue, suggesting that such spending impacts the integrity of the democratic process and the independence of candidates.

In contrast, Representative Haley Stevens faced direct questioning regarding her relationship with the lobbying group. Stevens notably avoided providing definitive answers when pressed on her ties to AIPAC. The exchange underscored a broader tension within the Democratic Party regarding how candidates should engage with pro-Israel organizations and the extent to which these groups should participate in primary contests. While El-Sayed sought to make the group's spending a defining feature of the campaign, Stevens’s refusal to engage with the specific questions regarding her affiliation left the nature of that relationship unclarified for the audience. The debate served as a microcosm of the national conversation surrounding lobbying influence, with the candidates presenting fundamentally different views on whether such support is a legitimate aspect of political campaigning or an undue influence on local representation.