Michigan AG Nessel Questions El-Sayed’s Commitment to Jewish Voters
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel endorses El-Sayed but probes his stance on Jewish issues.
2 min read
Middleton, Michigan — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Jewish Zionist, recently endorsed Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed for the U.S. Senate, but the endorsement came with a pointed question. During a private meeting, Nessel asked El-Sayed, “Are you seeking our votes? Do they matter to you?” The question highlights the growing tensions within the Democratic Party over El-Sayed’s alignment with Jewish voters and his views on Israel.
Jewish Community Divided Over El-Sayed
El-Sayed responded affirmatively, stating he hoped to earn their votes if they trusted him to be a successful leader despite disagreements. Earlier in the conversation, Nessel had asked whether there was room for someone like her in the Democratic Party’s “big tent.” El-Sayed confirmed there was, signaling a willingness to engage with Jewish Democrats.
The exchange is notable because Nessel, who had just endorsed El-Sayed, was not a Republican trying to challenge the Democratic nominee. Instead, she was working to unify her party behind El-Sayed after months of public disagreements involving Israel, antisemitism, and El-Sayed’s relationship with Michigan’s Jewish community.
Nonnegotiables Petition Gains Support
Seventeen additional Michigan Jewish leaders have signed the “Nonnegotiables” petition, which demands Democratic politicians affirm five principles involving Jewish safety, identity, political participation, Jewish sovereignty in Israel, and a better future for the Middle East. The petition is backed by the Ziones Action Fund, a progressive Zionist organization, and includes prominent figures like Democratic state Rep. Noah Arbit.
Despite the petition’s backing, El-Sayed has not publicly agreed to the group’s five requests. Other Jewish Democrats, however, continue to support El-Sayed, with a competing effort gathering roughly 900 Jewish signatures pledging to vote for him. Another letter supporting Republican Mike Rogers has collected over 500 signatures, indicating a divided Jewish community in Michigan.
El-Sayed’s Efforts to Repair Relationships
El-Sayed has spent weeks trying to mend relationships with Jewish leaders, including apologizing for past remarks about the attack on Temple Israel, meeting with Jewish Democrats, distancing himself from Hasan Piker, and affirming that Jewish safety is “never in question” for him.
Despite these efforts, the situation remains complex, and the political landscape surrounding El-Sayed is still unclear. The endorsement by Nessel and the questions she raised underscore the ongoing scrutiny of El-Sayed’s commitment to Jewish voters and his stance on Israel.
Source: PJ Media
