Several Jewish Democrats in Michigan have indicated they would support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers over Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed if El-Sayed secures the Democratic nomination. These sentiments emerged in discussions with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election.
Concerns stem from El-Sayed's past public statements and associations, which some Jewish voters view as critical of Israel and potentially antisemitic. Dennis Bernard, national chair of government relations for Jewish Federations of North America, told JTA that some long-time Democratic donors are worried about the direction of the party and have stated they would support Rogers financially and with their vote if El-Sayed wins the primary.
Neil Gorosh, a retired commercial mortgage banker, expressed a similar sentiment, stating he would vote for Rogers over El-Sayed, though he would not contribute financially to the Republican's campaign. Other Jewish Democrats are reportedly prioritizing support for El-Sayed's primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, citing her past support for Israel's right to exist.
Shimon Levy, an Israeli-American entrepreneur, voiced strong distrust in El-Sayed, attributing to him words that have "ostracized and villainized" the Jewish community in Southeast Michigan. He urged Jewish voters to reconsider their allegiances if they remain steadfastly Democratic.
El-Sayed's campaign has faced scrutiny over his past comments, including his defense of campaigning with streamer Hasan Piker, who had previously made controversial remarks about Hamas. El-Sayed himself has drawn criticism for statements suggesting Israel is "just as evil" as Hamas, a position he articulated in an interview with CNN in April. "Yes, killing tens of thousands of people makes you pretty damn evil," El-Sayed said. "It’s not how evil is this one versus that one — Hamas: Evil, Israeli government: Evil. We can say both."
Fox News Digital reported that El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Republican candidate, Mike Rogers, has been involved in Michigan politics for years, previously serving in the House of Representatives and chairing the House Intelligence Committee.