Michigan Jewish Voters Split as Abdul El-Sayed Draws Support for Progressive Agenda Amid Israel Rift
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More than 1,000 Michigan Jews have endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, while others plan to back Republican Mike Rogers, reflecting a deep divide over Israel, democratic values, and domestic policy priorities.
Jewish voters in Michigan are weighing a consequential Senate choice between Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers. El-Sayed, who leads in recent polls, is campaigning on universal health care and cost-of-living relief while taking a sharp moral stand against U.S. military aid to Israel, describing the conflict as "genocide" and labeling Israeli policies as "apartheid."
A public letter signed by more than 1,000 Michigan Jews, including former congressman Sander Levin and former Detroit AJC president Alicia Chandler, endorses El-Sayed even while openly acknowledging disagreements over his Israel stance. The signatories say his domestic agenda and commitment to democratic governance matter more than the controversy being used to distract from those priorities.
El-Sayed has hired veteran adviser Lenore Goldman, known for work with Jewish groups, to broaden his outreach without changing his position on Israel.
Critics within the Jewish community point to El-Sayed's remarks after the March attack on Temple Israel synagogue, where he said "Hurt people hurt people," interpreting it as minimizing the antisemitic act. He later apologized and clarified his intent.
Republican leaders have intensified attacks on El-Sayed, with President Donald Trump calling him a "jihadist" and "member of the Muslim Brotherhood" at an October rally, and Rogers accusing him of antisemitism at a Republican Jewish Coalition event.
The split reflects a broader debate among American Jews about whether urgent domestic policy priorities and resistance to the Trump-aligned administration outweigh concerns about a candidate's views on Israel.