Michigan Jewish donors warn that antisemitism and hostility toward Israel could drive them to abandon the Democratic Party in a crucial Senate race.
Prominent Jewish Democratic donors in Metro Detroit are reportedly preparing to support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers if far-left candidate Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan’s Democratic primary on August 4.
Several longtime Democratic fundraisers are reportedly planning potential events for Rogers, while others say they would vote for him or encourage friends to do so. Community leader Dennis Bernard described the election as a rare moment in which Jewish voters may have to place party loyalty behind the safety of the Jewish people, the United States and Israel.
El-Sayed has questioned whether Israel should remain a Jewish state and accused pro-Israel Democrats of being motivated by money. Following the Hezbollah-inspired vehicle attack against Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, he condemned the incident but added that “hurt people hurt people,” remarks critics viewed as minimizing an antisemitic terrorist attack.