Abdul El-Sayed Michigan US Senate campaign hires Jewish outreach director

Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan US Senate campaign has hired veteran consultant Lenore Goldman as Jewish outreach director in the race's final weeks, she confirmed to JTA. A Marist poll released Wednesday put him ahead of Republican Mike Rogers 50% to 48% among likely voters, within the margin of error. El-Sayed is also circulating a letter to Jewish Michiganders pledging to fight antisemitism, while Rogers called him "anti-Jew" in a JTA interview.

Abdul El-Sayed's campaign for Michigan's US Senate seat has hired a Jewish outreach director in the final weeks of the race, as the Democrat works to win over undecided Jewish voters. Lenore Goldman, a veteran political consultant with Michigan ties, confirmed the hire to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Wednesday and said she had been with the campaign since September. Her past work includes One Fair Wage and consulting on Voters Not Politicians, the 2018 Michigan campaign that passed a ballot measure creating a nonpartisan redistricting commission; she has also consulted for Jewish groups including the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco. The campaign first told JTA in August it was interviewing for a Jewish liaison position. Goldman arrives at a precarious moment. A Marist poll released Wednesday put El-Sayed ahead of Republican former US Rep. Mike Rogers 50% to 48% among likely voters, within the survey's margin of error. Jews have bristled at El-Sayed's criticism of Israel, including his statement this week that the country is "not an ally," and at his campaign's prior association with streamer Hasan Piker, from whom he has since distanced himself. Some Jews criticized his initial remarks on this spring's Temple Israel attack, for which he has apologized. Rogers called him "anti-Jew" in a JTA interview this week. El-Sayed is also circulating a letter to Jewish Michiganders, writing: "I care deeply about the threat of antisemitism to our communities, and I am committed to protecting all Michigan Jews against hatred and injustice." A spokesperson for the Michigan Democratic Party, named as a sponsor in the letter, did not respond to JTA requests for comment. Jewish surrogates are canvassing for El-Sayed through Seed the Vote, working with Bend the Arc Action and IfNotNow. Michigan canvasser Ronit Wagman told JTA that activists have sometimes met hostility from Jewish households. Illinois congressional candidate Daniel Biss, backed by J Street, addressed about 50 people at a private Jewish residence in Detroit on Monday and told JTA he saw nothing of the kind from El-Sayed himself. AIPAC announced Wednesday it would stop endorsing and soliciting donations for candidates, while its super PAC United Democracy Project planned to spend up to $9 million in Rogers's favor, per The New York Times. El-Sayed campaigns in Detroit this weekend with former president Barack Obama; the final scheduled debate is tonight.