Michigan Senate Race Shattered by Jewish Voter Rifts and Trump Criticism

The Michigan Senate race enters its final week with the Democratic nominee facing a fractured base. Abdul El-Sayed, who won the primary in a contentious contest, is now navigating deep divisions within the party while trying to counter President Donald Trump’s popularity and the Republican message. The central tension has moved from internal strategy to public display, with key Democratic figures expressing dissatisfaction with El-Sayed’s approach to specific voter groups.

The friction came into sharp focus Wednesday when Jason Turkish, the fiancé of former primary opponent Rep. Haley Stevens, told The Detroit News he would vote for Republican Mike Rogers. Hours later, Stevens appeared on CNN to confirm she would still support El-Sayed. She urged his campaign to address the discomfort among her coalition members, stating, “Make people who are in my coalition, right, make them feel comfortable about coming to the polls.” Stevens, who drew strong support from Jewish and Black voters in the primary, said the campaign needed to “shout out the hate and call it out.”

Jewish community leaders in Michigan have raised concerns about El-Sayed’s past remarks, his criticism of Israel, and his associations with streamer Hasan Piker. The issue intensified following an advertisement by the independent group Rebellion PAC that linked U.S. support for Israel to high grocery prices. El-Sayed said the ad “has nothing to do with our campaign,” but critics argued he needed to denounce the content more forcefully. Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield noted the rising tension, saying, “We are one week away from the election, and it feels like the temperature has turned way up.”

El-Sayed’s campaign has attempted to broaden his appeal by targeting rural residents and college students. His team released an advertisement featuring clips from conservative figures, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has denied accusations of antisemitism. The inclusion of Carlson added another layer of complexity for Jewish voters in the state.

Republican candidate Mike Rogers is capitalizing on voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies, particularly regarding the Iran war and economic costs. Rogers campaigned with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in Birmingham, where Cruz called antisemitism “a poison that is ripping the country apart.” Trump has personally attacked El-Sayed, calling him a “jihadist” and saying he is “on the side of terrorists.”

Both campaigns are making final efforts to secure the Black vote, particularly in Wayne County. El-Sayed is planning to campaign in Detroit with Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. Rogers has visited a reading program in a Detroit high school and discussed housing costs in Pontiac. His wife recently handed out $10 gift cards at a gas station, a gesture that drew mixed reactions from local residents.

Ruby Farmer, a 68-year-old Detroit retiree who voted for El-Sayed three weeks ago, criticized the gift card distribution. “You’re giving out gas cards in the inner city, you never would come for any other reason,” she said. Farmer cited the impact of Trump’s policies on her family, noting that Medicaid has been cut and benefits for home care workers are on hold.