Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says she will skip the Michigan Democratic Party’s August convention because she believes she will be harassed, chased around, and booed off the stage by members of her own party.
Nessel, who is Jewish, made the announcement Thursday during an Anti-Defamation League roundtable on antisemitism in Lansing. She said previous incidents and the party leadership’s response have left her convinced that she would not be welcome at the gathering.
"I feel like my presence isn’t going to be welcome. I don’t want to get chased around. I don’t want to get harassed. I don’t want to get yelled and screamed at. I don’t want to get booed off the stage, irrespective of what I’m saying. And I believe that if I go, that is what will happen because it’s been happening to me.”
Nessel's news broke across X Thursday afternoon.
Attorney General Dana Nessel just said at a roundtable on antisemitism that she will not be attending the state party convention in August because she doesn’t feel safe, saying she doesn’t want to be harassed or booed off the stage.
— Liz Nass (@liz_nass) July 30, 2026
This is Michigan’s sitting attorney general saying she does not trust her own political party to provide a safe environment for her. Nessel also accused Democratic leaders of failing to address complaints she previously made about party members who allegedly harassed her.
She acknowledged antisemitism among far-right neo-Nazi groups, but Nessel made clear that she was speaking specifically about the rot inside the Michigan Democratic Party.
“I can’t speak for the Republican Party because I’m not a member of that party,” Nessel said. “But I will speak as a member of the Democratic Party here in Michigan, that something’s got to change. This cannot continue.”
Michigan Democratic Party spokesman Derrick Honeyman responded with a statement promising that the August gathering would be safe.
“We reject antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hateful conduct. We are working diligently with stakeholders, elected officials, and party membership to prepare for our August convention and look forward to welcoming Michigan Democrats to the Lansing Center on August 29.”
That carefully worded response did not address Nessel’s allegation that party leaders ignored her earlier complaints. It also did not identify any steps the party has taken against the members she says have harassed her.
Nessel’s fears follow an ugly April convention at which pro-Israel Democrats were shouted down by party activists. Democrat Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan (MI-11), a pro-Israel candidate running for the Senate, faced sustained boos while addressing delegates. Jewish attendees later described the atmosphere as “shell-shocked.”
Delegates at that convention also rejected Jewish University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker and instead backed Amir Makled, whose deleted social media activity included posts supporting Hezbollah and referring to its late leader Hassan Nasrallah as a “martyr.” Makled has said that he disavows antisemitism.
Acker’s home, law office, and vehicle had previously been targeted by anti-Israel vandals. After losing the party’s backing, he said antisemitism among Michigan Democrats had become “extensive.”
The state party is scheduled to hold its nominating convention at the Lansing Center on August 29. Delegates will nominate candidates for attorney general, secretary of state, the state Supreme Court, and several university governing boards.
The convention will help select the Democrat who hopes to replace Nessel as attorney general. Nessel, meanwhile, plans to stay away because she expects Democrats to harass her over her Jewish identity and support for Israel.
Party leaders now have a month to explain how the outgoing attorney general reached the conclusion that avoiding Michigan Democrats altogether is her safest option.
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