As more and more Democratic Socialist candidates win primaries, their anti-Israel rhetoric gets louder and more pronounced. American Jews have traditionally been a reliable voting bloc for Democrats. But as the party embraces new candidates who seem to have no love for Israel, Jewish leaders are becoming increasingly concerned.
Q: "Are Jews no longer welcome in the Democrat party in Michigan?"
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) August 7, 2026
Democrat McMorrow: At our last convention with my husband, an antisemitic slur was screamed in his face.
pic.twitter.com/118Lap5orB
The recent primary victory of Abdul El-Sayed has Jewish leaders in Michigan sharing that concern. So much so that on Monday, several of those leaders sent a petition to the Michigan Democratic Party, asking for assurance of the safety of Jewish delegates at the convention. The petition, signed by roughly 200 leaders, comes in the wake of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is Jewish, saying that she would not attend the convention. The petition read in part:
We believe you need to make it clear, publicly, that anyone who chases, screams at, or otherwise harasses Jews at your convention will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
READ MORE: Shocker: Abdul El-Sayed's Horrific 'Dog Slaughterhouse'
The petition also mentioned Nessel's statement and added, “If Jews — including the highest-ranking Jewish state official in Michigan — are intimidated into staying away from your convention, it will not stop there.” Rabbis from several denominations, including those of the Reform, Conservative, and Humanistic, signed on to the petition.
Abdul El-Sayed is not a card-carrying member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), but he repeats much of their rhetoric on Israel. After his victory, he told Jewish voters in Michigan, “My commitment to Jewish safety is the same commitment that I have to the safety of my own daughters.” Quite a contrast to his past statements, such as calling Israel "genocidal and apartheid," and refusing to say Israel has the right to exist. In March, after an attack on a synagogue in Detroit, he did not condemn the attack; he tried to justify it. He has also frequently campaigned with far-left Israel critic Hasan Piker.
This is sick. The a Democrat party now has an unmistakable policy; “Jews not welcome.”
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 14, 2026
Even for their own elected officials.
The Jew hate is now so bad that the sitting Democrat AG in Michigan is AFRAID TO ATTEND HER OWN PARTY’S CONVENTION.
Read 👇 https://t.co/1OsI0zUpHu
Do Michigan Jews have a reason to feel uneasy? Many think so. Michigan State Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield), who is Jewish, stated:
"I hope I have the opportunity to meet with Abdul El-Sayed soon to communicate my deep concerns about some of the rhetoric of his campaign and the impact it has had on members of the Jewish community I represent and that he hopes to represent."
But one Detroit-area Jewish voter put it much more bluntly, saying, "It is just a scary time right now."
ALSO READ: New: First Warning Signs Emerge for Abdul El-Sayed, and Mike Rogers Has to Be Grinning
Jewish Democrats afraid to attend their own convention is just the latest in a string of issues Abdul El-Sayed's candidacy brings to Democrats. My colleague, Ward Clark, reported that El-Sayed's tenure as Detroit's Health Director — more specifically, his animal control department has been revealed to be less than desirable, leading to an employee calling it a "dog slaughterhouse." Politically, things do not appear to be improving for El-Sayed either. My colleague Sister Toldjah has reported that El-Sayed's poll numbers are not looking good. El-Sayed's opponent, Republican Mike Rogers, currently holds a 51-to-47 percent lead over El-Sayed, who is not doing well with key voting blocs like black voters, women, and suburban voters.
After his primary win, El-Sayed appeared to try to tone down the anti-Israel rhetoric, calling Jewish voters his "Jewish American sisters and brothers." But it might be too little too late for Abdul El-Sayed, as Michigan's Jewish voters may have already seen what really lurks beneath the surface.
Abdul loves his Jewish brothers and sisters so much that he doesn’t know Jews don’t eat bread during Passover (especially not at a Seder). And the shuls he references… the rabbis are voting for Mike Rogers. Abdul is an existential threat to Michigan Jews. pic.twitter.com/2XuHig3Qqq
— Democrats For Mike Rogers (@DemsForMike) August 13, 2026
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member