Michigan Primary Reveals Power of Grassroots Over Big Spending

Money talks in politics, but it doesn’t always win. Michigan’s recent Democratic Senate primary, where nearly $80 million was spent, proved that again. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s narrow win over Congresswoman Haley Stevens shows a widening gap between checkbooks and community connections. Stevens, a strong supporter of Israel, was outspent on the airwaves by a staggering margin. AdImpact data shows her media spending advantage was nearly nine to one. Yet she still lost. This race offers crucial lessons for anyone in politics: incumbents, advocacy groups, and the donors who fund them.

Incumbents must never take their voters for granted, no matter how much cash they have. History is full of examples. Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost a 2014 primary despite outspending his opponent 40-to-1. Longtime New York Congressman Joe Crowley spent 18 times more than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and still lost in 2018. These defeats show that money has diminishing returns when it replaces genuine voter relationships. In Michigan, Stevens let her opponent frame her pro-Israel stance as being bought by outside groups. Whenever El-Sayed criticized the millions spent by groups like AIPAC, she changed the subject. A confident candidate should be able to explain their convictions. If you are embarrassed by your donors, they become a liability.

This pattern is repeating. In Colorado, 30-year incumbent Diana DeGette faced a primary challenge this June from democratic socialist Melat Kiros. Money from opaque PACs flowed in to defend DeGette’s seat, yet she avoided media interviews in the final weeks. It is hard to claim you are a defender of democracy while anonymous groups fight for you. Kiros, who was born the year DeGette first took office, won by over 13 points.

For Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, the lesson is about groundwork. After progressive challengers beat Democratic incumbents in New York, Senator Bernie Sanders credited “ordinary people who knocked on doors.” He was right. El-Sayed’s campaign claimed 270,000 voter contacts, 500 events, and 12,000 volunteers. In contrast, many local pro-Israel organizers began their major turnout efforts only in the final weeks, largely focused in Detroit. They lacked a unified year-round network across the state. El-Sayed won by fewer than 15,000 votes. Michigan has an estimated 105,000 Jewish voters. That organizational gap decided the race.

A different story played out in Missouri. There, Congressman Wesley Bell successfully defended his seat against a socialist-aligned challenger with help from both outside spending and a strong local coalition. That coalition organized early through dozens of synagogues and community groups. The advertising there reinforced an existing network instead of trying to build one from scratch. The cost for that grassroots effort was in the low five figures—far less than a single television ad buy. Organizing is relatively cheap. The hard part is building the lasting systems: shared data, volunteer networks, and legal partnerships that endure between elections.

Donors should treat political contributions like any other investment and demand measurable returns. Before funding another ad blitz, backers should ask what political assets will remain after the campaign ends. Visionary funders should invest in infrastructure: strong technology, trained organizers, and curated voter lists that outlast the mailers. This way, even a lost race is not a total waste. The investment builds trust and capacity for the next fight.

Haley Stevens is a capable four-term congresswoman. She might have lost by a much larger margin without over $63 million in support. But her defeat to a robust progressive machine makes one thing starkly clear: without authenticity and sophisticated organization, no amount of money can secure victory. As we head into a difficult general election, more incumbents may fall to candidates without big wallets but with far better ground games. Michigan’s message is simple. Money only matters when it is combined with real people, working their own neighborhoods, long before Election Day.

• Money does not guarantee victory.
• Voter relationships are crucial.
• Organizing and groundwork matter.
• Invest in long-term political assets.
• Authenticity is vital for candidates.
• Coalitions built early can make a difference.