Michigan Senate race puts Jewish voters at center of Rogers-El-Sayed battle

The Michigan Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has placed Jewish voters at the center of the contest. Rogers accuses El-Sayed of anti-Jewish views based on his criticism of Israel, while El-Sayed's supporters argue he is not antisemitic. Both campaigns are actively courting Michigan's estimated 100,000 Jewish adults ahead of the November election.

The Michigan Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has placed Jewish voters at the center of the contest. Rogers, a former congressman who narrowly lost the 2024 Senate race, accuses El-Sayed of being anti-Jewish based on El-Sayed's hardline criticism of Israel, including calling Israel "not actually our friend." Rogers has made overt appeals to Michigan's estimated 100,000 Jewish adults, meeting with clergy and hosting events in Orthodox neighborhoods. Vice President JD Vance echoed the criticism at a rally. A progressive canvassing campaign, Seed the Vote, is targeting Jews to support El-Sayed, while a coalition of Jews pledging to vote for him has topped 950 signatures. Some Jewish community leaders remain uneasy with El-Sayed but cannot support the Republican platform. Rogers links El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, which El-Sayed has disavowed. The election is in two weeks.