Michigan Democrat leaders join Nonnegotiable campaign pressuring El-Sayed on Jewish safety, Israel

Seventeen prominent Michigan Jewish Democratic officials and activists joined the Nonnegotiable Michigan campaign, urging US Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed to affirm commitments on Jewish safety, identity, and Israeli statehood. The campaign, launched by rabbis and lay leaders, received no public response from El-Sayed. Signatories include Regent Mark Bernstein and State Rep. Noah Arbit. The campaign centers on five core commitments, including recognizing Jewish sovereignty in Israel and rejecting rhetoric that stigmatizes Jews.

Seventeen prominent Michigan Jewish Democratic elected officials, party leaders, and activists publicly signed on to the Nonnegotiable Michigan campaign on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, urging Democratic US Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed to affirm foundational commitments regarding Jewish safety, identity, and Israeli statehood. The growing roster includes University of Michigan Regent Mark Bernstein, State Representative Noah Arbit, former state representative Ellen Cogen Lipton, and former Keego Harbor Mayor Rob Kalman. The campaign, initially launched earlier in September by Michigan rabbis, cantors, and synagogue lay leaders, received no public response from El-Sayed. It centers on five core commitments: affirming Jewish safety including Zionist Jews as nonnegotiable; recognizing Jews' right to define their own identities; supporting Jewish sovereignty in Israel; welcoming Jewish participation in American political life; and providing a vision for a better Middle East. In a letter to former VP Kamala Harris, faith leaders detailed concerns, citing El-Sayed's characterization of Israelis as 'bloodthirsty'. The campaign also follows an incident where El-Sayed declined to condemn Iran's IRGC. El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.