SDJW staff report
SAN DIEGO — Following are reactions from various Jewish organizations to the victory of Abdul El-Sayed in Tuesday’s Democratic primary election in Michigan for U.S. Senate.
American Jewish Committee: Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s nomination as the Democratic candidate for Senate in Michigan is a deeply troubling reflection of the growing mainstreaming of divisive rhetoric and exclusionary politics in America. At the same time, Congresswoman [Haley] Stevens’ strong showing demonstrates that there is still a place and support for nuanced, moderate voices.
We are concerned by El-Sayed’s framing of American politics as a zero-sum game that too often casts those who disagree as the enemy. He has said that he has “a lot of contempt” for the current political system and frames those who disagree with him as being corrupt and bought by special interests, rather than simply having opposing viewpoints. It’s one thing to disagree over policy, it’s another to delegitimize those with whom you disagree. This approach is fundamentally at odds with the principles of civility, pluralism, and robust democratic debate that are central to our democracy. Of particular concern to the Jewish community is El-Sayed’s portrayal of supporters of Israel as illegitimate and morally corrupt, while simultaneously demonizing Israel itself.
Most Americans agree that political rhetoric of this nature has gone too far. AJC is calling on all Americans to reject extremist rhetoric and policies from all candidates – no matter their party – that perpetuate this divisive approach. AJC is doubling down on our efforts to engage leaders in Washington and across the United States who seek to reclaim American politics from the extremes, maintain a strong and inclusive democracy in which political parties can vigorously debate opposing viewpoints with civility and respect, and strengthen the capacity for collaboration across party lines.
AJC is a 501(c)(3) organization and is strictly non-partisan. AJC does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office.
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Jewish Democratic Council of America: We are disappointed in the result of the Michigan Senate race, which was decided by a razor-thin margin. We are encouraged that it was not a resounding victory by the far-left, as was projected, and proud of the race run by Rep. Haley Stevens. We thank her for her consistent and principled leadership standing with Jewish Americans.
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Republican Jewish Coalition: Abdul El-Sayed is a direct threat to Michigan’s Jewish community.
El-Sayed has called the government of the Jewish state as ‘evil’ as Hamas, ‘struggled’ to say that Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state, and empathized with a terrorist who tried to murder Jewish schoolchildren at Temple Israel in the Detroit suburbs – and yet, Michigan Democrats just picked him as their nominee for the United States Senate.
Michigan’s Jewish community does not need this explained to them. They lived it. They watched the smoke rise over Walnut Lake Road in March. Then they watched Abdul El-Sayed reach for a microphone and offer his rationale for why the attack happened: not to blame the terrorist, but to place the blame 6,000 miles away and the burden on the Jews of West Bloomfield. Their own rabbi called it what it was: offensive. El-Sayed later told his own supporters that saying it was a ‘risk.’ It wasn’t a risk, but it was a clear revelation.
El-Sayed has campaigned arm-in-arm with Hasan Piker while Michigan State’s Hillel was warning students about a ‘known antisemite’ on their campus. He wants to strip Israel not just of the weapons it uses to defend itself, but of the defensive systems that intercept the rockets aimed at innocent civilians. He said ‘I call bullshit’ on any definition of antisemitism that touches his politics. His campaign’s primary organizing principle is that a pro-Israel Jewish American advocacy group is a hidden hand behind everything wrong in Michigan — an argument so ugly that Haley Stevens herself called it blatant antisemitism.
There is nothing complicated about the choice this November.
Mike Rogers is a distinguished Army veteran and former FBI special agent who chaired the House Intelligence Committee. He spent 14 years in Congress as one of the most reliable pro-America, pro-Israel voices in the House, and he has been unflinching about confronting antisemitism wherever it appears. The RJC is honored to have endorsed Mike Rogers, and we are proud to stand with him. Rogers came within 0.34% of victory in 2024—we will help to ensure that he wins in 2026.
To our friends in Michigan’s Jewish community, including the tens of thousands who have voted Democrat their entire adult lives and now find themselves politically homeless: this is the moment for real change and action. There are more than 100,000 Jewish voters in the Wolverine State. We are not a rounding error, we are the decisive margin.
Mike Rogers has earned your vote.
The RJC will spend every day between now and November making sure Michigan knows the difference between Mike Rogers, who will stand with you, and Abdul El-Sayed, who will defend the people who come after you.
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Preceding compiled from press releases.