Campaign Staff Registered as Israeli Foreign Agents
Advertising firms and the campaigns that hire them should check vendor ties to foreign government contracts before signing new agreements.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Advertising
Two workers on Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers' campaign are registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act as agents for the Israeli government, according to filings and reporting. The campaign paid Convergence Media millions of dollars this election cycle, and one of the workers is among 14 Convergence Media employees subcontracted for a $46.5 million Israeli government communications project.
Why it matters
Foreign-agent registrations create disclosure obligations for individuals and the firms that hire them, and vendor relationships like the Rogers campaign's payments to Convergence Media show how political media spending can overlap with foreign government contracts. The overlap surfaces now because the work and the registrations are on the public record just before the November 3 midterm vote.
Federal filings show a $46.5 million Israeli government communications project subcontracted 14 Convergence Media employees, one of whom is linked to the Rogers campaign. Federal Election Commission records show the campaign has paid Convergence Media millions of dollars this cycle, though the exact total is not stated.
The players
Mike Rogers
Former Republican congressman and Michigan U.S. Senate candidate whose campaign employs both workers and has paid Convergence Media millions of dollars.
Convergence Media
Communications and media firm whose employees were subcontracted for a $46.5 million Israeli government communications project and which has been paid by the Rogers campaign.
Havas Media Network
Global advertising and media holding company whose contract is the basis of the Israeli government communications work registered under FARA.
Clocktower X LLC
Firm named in the Ronson registration as the channel for work involving Havas Media Network, and associated with former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale.
The details
Campaign spokesperson Abigail Ronson registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act in May, describing her services as strategic communications, planning, and media services for an Israeli government initiative in the U.S. aimed at combating antisemitism. Her registration covers work involving Havas Media Network through Clocktower X LLC, a firm associated with former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale. Communications specialist Jesse Stokes registered under the same Havas contract in October 2025 and has reportedly authored several Rogers campaign press releases. Ronson has reportedly communicated with journalists using an official campaign email address.
Timeline
October 2025: Jesse Stokes registers as a foreign agent under the Havas contract.
May 2026: Abigail Ronson begins Israeli government communications work and registers under FARA.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Michigan U.S. Senate midterm elections.
Market Landscape
Political campaigns and advertising firms increasingly share vendors and staff, and FARA filings are the public record that reveals when that work also serves a foreign government. This case places a domestic Senate campaign's media spending alongside a foreign government communications contract run through the same advertising network.
Businesses that hire political media vendors should review whether any of those vendors hold foreign-agent registrations or foreign government contracts, since those ties carry disclosure obligations. Campaign and corporate procurement teams should also document vendor relationships and staff roles, and questions about compliance are best directed to qualified counsel.
The takeaway
Vendor overlap between domestic political campaigns and foreign government contracts is now visible in public filings, so operators in advertising should treat FARA registrations as a due-diligence signal. Check any agency or media vendor's FARA status against the Department of Justice's public database before signing or renewing a contract.
What happens next
Michigan's U.S. Senate midterm election takes place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more on how advertising firms and their contracts operate, explore the Advertising section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by خبرگزاری بین المللی قرآن (ایکنا).
