Jewish Democrats abandon El-Sayed for GOP rival in all-important battleground state

Michigan Jewish Community Sends 400‑Strong Letter Backing GOP Senatorial Candidate Mike Rogers

A coalition of more than 400 Jewish residents of Michigan has joined forces to write a letter urging Republican U.S. Senator Mike Rogers to keep the state’s Senate seat in Republican hands. The signatories, many of whom have long supported Democratic causes, claim they feel “threatened and alienated” by Democrat Abdul El Sayed, who is running for the seat in the 2026 election.

A letter that crosses party lines

The letter, posted on the website mijewsvote.com, lists the names of prominent Michigan Jewish leaders. Among them are:

• Rob Orley – a senior advisor for O2 Investments and a frequent Democratic donor who has given tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns.
• Robert Gordon – former president of Temple Israel, Michigan’s largest synagogue, which suffered an antisemitic attack in March.
• Shayna Levine – daughter of the rabbi of Temple Israel.
• David Propis – cantor at Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
• Laurence Deitch – former University of Michigan regent.
• Hannan Lis – Weight Watchers executive.
• Daniel Cherrin – attorney and longtime supporter of El Sayed, who says he no longer feels safe around those who back the candidate.

The letter’s authors say they are “fiercely supportive of Democratic candidates and principles” but fear that El Sayed’s victory would let “far‑left and anti‑Jewish elements in the Democratic Party become dominant,” especially as the party heads toward the 2028 presidential race.

Why El Sayed is a target

El Sayed, a former Detroit mayor and U.S. Representative, is a Muslim Democrat who champions progressive causes such as Medicare for All and campaign finance reform. His campaign has been energized by the support of the Muslim community and by controversial social‑media personalities like Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has made antisemitic remarks in the past.

In recent weeks, El Sayed has publicly distanced himself from Piker, saying he has no plans to continue the partnership. “I’m not accepting Hasan Piker,” the former mayor said, “but you have to look in the mirror.”

The letter’s signatories blame the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for influencing the political climate. Former Representative Andy Levin, himself Jewish, says that AIPAC has spent more than $4 million against his 2022 primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, and that the group pushes a “distinctly minority position” on Israel and Palestine within the Jewish community.

Levin, who endorsed El Sayed in November 2025, insists that the backlash against the Democrat is not representative of Jewish voters statewide. “It’s not a surprise to me,” he said. “The people I know associated with it are all long‑time AIPAC insiders and supporters.”

Rogers’ response

Mike Rogers, a former U.S. Representative who served for 15 years and is now a candidate for the Senate, welcomed the letter. In a statement to Fox News Digital, he said:

“As antisemitism rises and Jewish families worry for their safety, it’s critical that we have leaders who will confront hatred— not inflame it. That’s where my opponent and I couldn’t be more different.”

Rogers added that he sees El Sayed as a “firestarter” for antisemitic sentiment, and he pledged to continue engaging the Jewish community.

A broader debate over who represents Michigan’s Jews

The letter and the ensuing reactions highlight a split in Michigan’s Jewish community. While a minority of Jewish voters, such as former Representative Andy Levin and Holocaust scholar Roslyn Schindler, continue to support El Sayed, a larger group feels that the Democratic Party has drifted too far to the left and that it is no longer a safe haven for their concerns.

Schindler, a lifelong Detroit resident and former Holocaust studies professor at Wayne State University, told Fox News Digital that she has been a supporter of El Sayed since before his primary victory. “I am a committed Jew. I am a committed Democrat,” she said. “The Democratic Party should be a large tent that includes all members of that party, no matter what their perspective.”

Cherrin, on the other hand, noted that the Jewish community in Michigan has had to rely on security guards at synagogues and temples—a testament, he said, to the failure of the broader society to protect its members. “It’s not about AIPAC for me,” he told Fox News Digital. “It’s about how we’re protecting the sanctity of the Jewish community in Michigan and across the country.”

The upcoming election

The Senate race in Michigan is shaping up as a high‑stakes showdown. With the state’s Senate seat currently held by a Democrat, the outcome will determine whether the seat flips to Republican control or remains in the party that has dominated Michigan politics for the past decade.

The letter’s authors hope that their support for Rogers will help keep the seat in Republican hands, while Democratic allies continue to rally behind El Sayed, who emphasizes his progressive platform and his historic status as a Muslim candidate in the U.S. Senate.

As the campaign season heats up, the debate over which candidate best represents Michigan’s diverse Jewish population—and indeed, the broader electorate—will be a focal point of the 2026 election cycle.