Black voters in Wayne County and Jewish Democrats in Oakland County, Michigan, are voicing open reluctance to back Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, according to interviews conducted by MS NOW.
Elise Jordan of MS NOW said her team spoke to four groups of Democratic voters in Michigan, two of which had backed Rep. Haley Stevens in the Senate primary: Black voters from Wayne County and Jewish Democrats from Oakland County.
One Black voter put it bluntly: “I think he’s taking advantage that we as Black people are Democratic, and he thinks we’re going to vote for him anyway. And I’m like, no sir. I’m like, to put uncommitted down on that little circle and move on.”
“If you go to Congress to represent me, I need you to talk about what’s going on in this community,” the voter added.
Jewish Voters Torn Over Israel
Jewish Democratic voters interviewed raised deep concerns about El-Sayed’s position on Israel, with several saying it could push them toward Republican nominee Mike Rogers despite other reservations.
One voter, who said he has a transgender daughter, described his dilemma this way: “I have a transgender daughter who is 30, and I’m Jewish, and Israel is incredibly important to me. But a vote for Mike Rogers is a vote for my kid being oppressed and her rights being taken away.”
Another voter called the choice “Sophie’s choice,” saying: “I love some of the things he’s talked about. I think it’s a little idealistic and a little extreme, and I’m a little concerned. But, you know, my big block is, it just comes down to this whole thing with Israel.”
A third voter said, “On one hand, I’m like, OK, well, the choice is clear, but then all of a sudden it’s like, I can’t vote for Abdul because, once again, he’s going against something that’s innately me.”
One Jewish mother told the group she may cross party lines because of her daughter’s experience at the University of Detroit Mercy law school. “She has to hide being Jewish. And it’s a hard thing to say. When Oct. 7 came, horrible for her, lots of tears. I may go to Mike Rogers. Sorry, guys,” she said. Other voters in the group told her not to apologize.
Rogers Responds, El-Sayed Silent
Mike Rogers’ campaign responded to the reporting with a statement to Fox News Digital: “When I got into this race, I did so with the best interest of every single Michigander — regardless of political affiliation or background — in mind. To the Michiganders who are lifelong Democrats, if you’re looking at your party’s nominee today and don’t think his hatefulness and divisiveness is representative of your values, you have a home with us. We’re grateful for the support from Democrats we’ve received thus far and look forward to fighting for ALL Michiganders in the U.S. Senate.”
El-Sayed’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
El-Sayed has also faced scrutiny over his association with far-left streamer Hasan Piker, who has campaigned with him. Piker has claimed America is “pound for pound” worse than al Qaeda “as far as the number of deaths,” adding, “We have caused tremendous terror all around the world.”
A Dead-Even Race
A Fox News poll released Sept. 30 showed El-Sayed leading Rogers by a single point among likely voters, 50% to 49%. Among registered voters the gap was similarly narrow, 51% to 48% in El-Sayed’s favor — a reversal from August, when Rogers led registered voters 51% to 47%.
Not every group interviewed by MS NOW broke against El-Sayed. Among six voters who said they regretted backing President Trump and were certain of their 2024 Senate pick, five said they would support El-Sayed over Rogers.
