Several prominent Jewish Democrats in Michigan are backing Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers. Michigan’s GOP chair expressed confidence that opposition to Abdul El-Sayed will lead to a significant shift of Jewish voters from the Democratic Party on Election Day.
“The big issue is Democratic donors who are Jewish,” stated Michigan GOP Chairman Jim Runestad. He noted that there is considerable concern among this group about El-Sayed due to his comments and associations, which worry the Jewish community in Michigan.
Approximately 500 individuals identifying as Jewish Democrats or independents in Michigan signed an open letter endorsing Rogers. They praised him as a “friend to the Jewish community” and warned that an El-Sayed victory could enable “far-left and anti-Jewish elements” within the Democratic Party.
Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers is actively reaching out to Michigan Democrats following El-Sayed’s primary win. Amid claims that Jewish support for him is declining, El-Sayed released a video showcasing his participation in Rosh Hashanah with two Jewish women. However, their pro-Palestinian stance and apparent lack of familiarity with Hebrew prayers attracted criticism, including from a Democratic state lawmaker.
“Man, I really hate tokenism,” wrote Democrat state Rep. Noah Arbit, who represents the heavily Jewish town of West Bloomfield.
Despite the backlash, El-Sayed’s video gained significant online attention, with thousands of interactions on social media platforms.
Even if El-Sayed loses support among Jewish voters, it’s uncertain whether this will affect Democrats in Michigan negatively in the long term. The open letter backing Rogers specifies that signatories are not necessarily supporting former President Donald Trump but are focused on this Senate race.
The Rogers campaign believes their Jewish outreach efforts are proving successful. They reportedly receive positive messages from Jewish voters frequently and have experienced success with donor fundraisers, though specific figures are not disclosed.
Runestad is confident about Republicans making lasting inroads within the Jewish community. He noted that the party shares many values with Jewish voters, such as entrepreneurship and lower taxes.
While Jewish voters supporting Rogers may benefit Republicans, El-Sayed enjoys strong backing from Michigan’s Arab American community, notably in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, where he secured a significant primary advantage.
Concerns about El-Sayed’s associations with figures like Hasan Piker, known for controversial statements, are increasing among Jewish voters. Runestad highlighted the potential impact of Piker’s comments and connection to El-Sayed on the election’s outcome.
El-Sayed downplayed the significance of his proximity to Piker and criticized claims of his campaign struggling among Jewish voters. Campaign spokesman Cole Wozniak mentioned ongoing engagement with Jewish leaders to build a coalition against Rogers.
In addition, over 800 Jewish Michiganders signed a letter supporting El-Sayed, acknowledging some disagreements but emphasizing their backing of his candidacy. El-Sayed prioritizes addressing concerns within the Jewish community and continues to seek support from high-profile Jewish figures.
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