Michigan GOP Hopes Anti-El-Sayed Sentiment Will Drive Jewish Voters To Republicans

As some prominent Jewish Democrats in Michigan throw their support behind Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers, the state's GOP chair told Fox News Digital he is confident that opposition to Abdul El-Sayed will spark a significant Jewish defection from the Democratic Party on Election Day. "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," Michigan GOP Chairman Jim Runestad told Fox News Digital. "His off-the-charts comments and his associations are actually striking fear into the Jewish community here in the state of Michigan."

Indeed, roughly 500 individuals identifying as Jewish Democrats or independents living in Michigan have signed an open letter calling Rogers a "friend to the Jewish community" and warning that an El-Sayed victory could allow "far-left and anti-Jewish elements" to become dominant within the Democratic Party. Amid his allegedly faltering Jewish support, El-Sayed released a video on social media where he showed himself spending Rosh Hashanah, essentially the Jewish New Year, with two Jewish women. The two women's pro-Palestinian activism, along with criticism of their apparent unfamiliarity with the Hebrew prayers featured in the video, drew scrutiny from critics, including one Democratic state lawmaker.

"Man I really hate tokenism," Democrat state Rep. Noah Arbit, who represents the heavily Jewish town of West Bloomfield, wrote. "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," Jonathan Greenberg, a rabbi who leads the effort to combat antisemitism at a conservative advocacy group, wrote. El-Sayed's video nonetheless drew significant engagement on social media, generating thousands of interactions across X and TikTok.

Even if El-Sayed alienates Jewish voters, it is unclear if that will have lasting, or even down-ballot, effects for Democrats in Michigan. The open letter endorsing Rogers, for instance, makes clear that signatories do not necessarily support President Donald Trump and states that their support is specific to "this year and in this Senate race." As it relates to the short term, the Rogers campaign claims that their Jewish outreach efforts have been successful. A source within the Rogers campaign told Fox News Digital that their social media inboxes are "constantly" being filled with positive messages from Jewish voters and that they've been "inundated" with outreach more generally.

The source also claimed that the fundraisers they held with donors have gone well, though they did not provide specific numbers. Runestad, however, is confident that Republicans can make lasting gains with the Jewish community if they play their cards right. "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 told Fox News Digital. This shift could reshape local politics significantly if voters decide to switch sides based on cultural comfort rather than party loyalty. The risk here is deepening division within the state's diverse population right before an election that hinges on razor-thin margins.

Jewish voters are shifting significantly toward Mike Rogers in this election cycle. Yet that support is not automatic. Abdul El-Sayed faces another hurdle: strong backing from Michigan's Arab American community, especially in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, where he won the Democratic primary with a commanding margin.

"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," one observer noted. That alignment could help El-Sayed if the campaign can keep it going. But risks remain.

Runestad, a former staffer for Hillary Clinton who now works with Michigan's Jewish leaders, said his group has been reaching out across Oakland County, home to a very substantial Jewish population. He thinks this cycle will bring a real sea change in how people vote. "We're seeing different conversations," he added.

The biggest worry comes from the right side of the aisle for El-Sayed. Runestad pointed directly at Hasan Piker. "The real concern for the Jewish community is someone like Hasan Piker," he said. "Anybody who has looked at his comments, they're off the charts." He called Piker something like a right-hand man to El-Sayed, and noted that some of the streamer's antisemitic remarks are certainly going to be brought up in this election. The Jewish community is becoming more aware of just how dangerous someone like Hasan Piker is and his connection to El-Sayed.

El-Sayed has dismissed the closeness to Piker as insignificant to Michigan voters overall. He called Piker's claim that America "deserved" the September 11 attacks dumb. His campaign also pushed back against claims it is floundering among Jewish voters. They say those who doubt their outreach are missing the point of recent meetings and conversations.

In response to an open letter supporting Rogers, liberal Jewish leaders in Michigan gathered signatures from more than 800 people identifying as Jewish Michiganders affirming their support for El-Sayed. Some of them disagree with him on foreign policy or other issues, but they still back his candidacy. That shows a split opinion within the group itself.

El-Sayed has made soothing concerns among Michigan Jews a priority for his campaign. He is courting endorsements from high-profile Jewish lawmakers and meeting frequently with members of the community to build coalitions that can defeat Rogers and restore Democratic control of the U.S. Senate. His goal includes putting a check on what his team calls Trump's reckless agenda.

Campaign spokesman Cole Wozniak told Fox News Digital that Abdul is grateful for the good conversations he has had with Jewish leaders across Michigan. He said El-Sayed will continue to be actively engaged with communities to build that coalition and win key seats this year. The stakes are high, and both sides know the election could shape Michigan politics for years to come.