Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D-MI) announced a late endorsement of Abdul el-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee whose positions on Israel have sparked internal party conflict. The endorsement comes despite Nessel’s prior criticism of el-Sayed’s associations and rhetoric.
El-Sayed’s campaign released a video featuring him observing Rosh Hashanah with two Jewish women, an outreach effort aimed at addressing concerns about his stance on Israel. The video drew mixed reactions, including criticism of perceived tokenism from a Democratic state lawmaker.
Nessel, the first Jewish person elected to Michigan’s top law enforcement post, had previously questioned el-Sayed’s campaigning with Hasan Piker, a Twitch streamer accused of antisemitism, and his remarks about the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC. She stated his rhetoric needed to be “toned down.” Despite these concerns, Nessel’s endorsement aligns her with el-Sayed’s Senate bid.
El-Sayed’s Jewish outreach efforts follow reports that roughly 500 Jewish Democrats or independents in Michigan signed an open letter supporting Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers, calling him a “friend to the Jewish community” and warning that an el-Sayed victory could empower “far-left and anti-Jewish elements” within the Democratic Party. Michigan GOP Chairman Jim Runestad predicted significant Jewish voter defection from Democrats over el-Sayed’s positions.
Critics of el-Sayed’s video, including Democratic state Rep. Noah Arbit, argued it exemplified tokenism rather than genuine engagement. Others, like Rabbi Jonathan Greenberg, suggested the video was not intended to appeal to Jewish voters but to counter accusations of bigotry from non-Jewish observers.
El-Sayed’s campaign has not publicly addressed calls to distance himself from Piker, despite ongoing scrutiny over the association. The Senate race remains a focal point in Michigan, with el-Sayed’s Israel-related comments continuing to shape intraparty and interparty debates.