The El-Sayed effect: How Jews and Israel are factoring into Michigan’s primaries

Michigan's Democratic primaries see Israel and Jewish issues shaping races beyond the Senate contest, with progressive candidates opposing Israel and centrists embracing pro-Israel stances, while Jewish voters watch closely.

The intra-party debate over Israel that has dominated Michigan's Democratic US Senate primary is reverberating down the ballot. Progressive former county health official Abdul El-Sayed's pro-Palestinian Senate bid is mirrored in the 7th District, where climate activist William Lawrence challenges centrists for the nomination, calling to end military aid to Israel. In the 13th District, state Rep. Donavan McKinney, endorsed by El-Sayed, challenges incumbent Shri Thanedar, who shifted from DSA to pro-Israel. Jewish Democrats are drifting from the party due to the discourse. The article notes fewer than 10,000 Jews live in the greater Lansing area, and local Jewish institutions have expressed alarm about El-Sayed's movement.