A public split among Jewish voters in Michigan is emerging as a flashpoint in the state’s U.S. Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, with roughly 500 people identifying as Jewish Democrats or independents signing an open letter backing Rogers over concerns about El-Sayed.
The letter calls Rogers a “friend to the Jewish community” and warns that an El-Sayed win could allow “far-left and anti-Jewish elements” to gain influence within the Democratic Party. It notably stops short of endorsing President Donald Trump, stating the support is specific to “this year and in this Senate race.”
Michigan GOP Chairman Jim Runestad told Fox News Digital he believes the defections signal a lasting opportunity for Republicans in the state.
“The big issue is Democratic donors who are Jewish, and what we’re hearing most of the angst is about from them, is El-Sayed,” Runestad said. “His off-the-charts comments and his associations are actually striking fear into the Jewish community here in the state of Michigan.”
Runestad, who represents Oakland County, said his party sees an opening beyond this election cycle. “We think there’s also an opening for Republicans long term to start getting the Jewish community to look at the Republicans from a different perspective,” he said. “We have been very connected to so much of what the Jewish community believes in terms of being entrepreneurial, supporting lower taxes and reducing regulation.”
A Rosh Hashanah Video Draws Fire
Amid reports of eroding Jewish support, El-Sayed posted a social media video showing him observing Rosh Hashanah with two Jewish women. Critics, including one Democratic state lawmaker, questioned the optics of the video after the two women’s pro-Palestinian activism and apparent unfamiliarity with the Hebrew prayers featured drew scrutiny.
State Rep. Noah Arbit, a Democrat who represents the heavily Jewish community of West Bloomfield in Oakland County, wrote: “Man I really hate tokenism.”
Rabbi Jonathan Greenberg, who leads antisemitism-focused efforts at a conservative advocacy group, was more pointed: “This isn’t designed to appeal to the Jewish community. It’s for any non-Jews concerned about his bigotry who won’t immediately be suspicious.”
Despite the criticism, the video generated thousands of interactions across X and TikTok.
Piker Connection Cited as a Concern
Runestad singled out El-Sayed’s association with streamer Hasan Piker as a particular worry among Jewish voters. “The real concern for the Jewish community is someone like Hasan Piker. Anybody who has looked at his comments — they’re off the charts,” Runestad said. “This is like the right-hand man of El-Sayed, and some of his despicable antisemitic comments are certainly going to be brought to bear in this election.”
El-Sayed has downplayed the significance of his ties to Piker among Michigan voters and has called the streamer’s remark that America “deserved” the September 11 attacks “dumb.”
Campaign Pushes Back
El-Sayed campaign spokesman Cole Wozniak disputed the narrative that support among Jewish voters is collapsing. “Abdul is grateful for the good conversations he’s had with Jewish leaders across Michigan, and he’ll continue to be actively engaged with communities to build the coalition that will defeat Rogers, restore Democratic control of the U.S. Senate, and put a much-needed check on Trump’s reckless agenda,” Wozniak said.
In response to the pro-Rogers letter, liberal Jewish leaders in Michigan gathered signatures from more than 800 people identifying as Jewish Michiganders affirming support for El-Sayed, while acknowledging some signers disagree with him on foreign policy and other issues.
A source inside the Rogers campaign told Fox News Digital that its social media inboxes are “constantly” receiving positive messages from Jewish voters and that fundraisers with donors have gone well, though no specific figures were provided.
Any shift toward Rogers among Jewish voters will be weighed against El-Sayed’s strength in Michigan’s Arab American community, particularly in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, where he built a commanding lead during the Democratic primary. Runestad said Republican outreach has also focused on Oakland County’s Jewish population. “We have been outreaching to the Jewish community here in Oakland County, which is a very substantial community, and I think we’re going to see a real sea change this cycle,” he said.
