Michigan Attorney General skips state Democratic convention over security concerns
Attorney General Dana Nessel said she will not attend the Michigan Democratic Party's 2026 nominating convention, citing safety worries after recent anti-Israel incidents at party events.
Michigan Democrats gathered in Lansing on Saturday for their 2026 state nominating convention amid heightened concerns over antisemitic harassment and pro-Palestinian protests within the party. Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is Jewish, announced she would not attend the event, saying she does not feel safe and expects to be harassed if she appears.
"I don’t feel safe going. I feel like my presence isn’t going to be welcome. I don’t want to get chased around. I don’t want to get harassed. I don’t want to get yelled and screamed at. I don’t want to get booed off the stage, irrespective of what I’m saying," Nessel told a round-table discussion last month.
The Michigan Democratic Party responded that it is committed to providing a secure environment for attendees and rejects antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of hateful conduct. State party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman said the party is working with stakeholders and elected officials to prepare for the August 29 convention at the Lansing Center.
The convention follows an April gathering where anti-Israel activists shouted down pro-Israel speakers, including Rep. Haley Stevens, and where some participants reported feeling intimidated. Jewish community leaders expressed mixed reactions; Joan Lowenstein of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus said she has not heard anyone who feels unsafe, while Rabbi Asher Lopatin described the atmosphere as traumatizing for many progressive Jews.
The event occurs as the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan remains closely contested between Rep. Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed, a critic of U.S. military aid to Israel. The primary outcome could influence the party’s stance on Israel and affect the broader midterm Senate race.
Separately, a group of Jewish leaders circulated an open letter urging Jewish Democrats and independents to consider supporting Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers, citing concerns over perceived anti-Jewish sentiment within the Democratic Party.