Michigan Jews split on support for Abdul El-Sayed in Senate Democratic primary
Jewish voters in Michigan are divided over supporting Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed due to his vocal criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. While some view his stance as a dealbreaker, others, including Jewish supporters, see his position as a necessary moral stand.
Why it matters
This divide highlights the complex intersection of identity politics and foreign policy within the American Democratic party.
Karen Bick has spent the days leading up to Michigan's Democratic Senate primary fielding calls from Jewish friends urging her to vote for US Rep. Haley Stevens.Despite the pressure, Bick, 69, said she plans to sit out the race altogether. As much as she is compelled by the campaign of Stevens' progressive opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, his accusations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza have kept her from voting for him. Stevens' campaign, she said, hasn't given her enough reason to vote for her instead.“I am very pro-Israel. I'm not pro-[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, which is part of the whole thing. A lot of my friends who are Jewish have been calling me, trying to get Haley, but it's like they're looking at one issue,” said Bick, a Jewish resident of Oak Park, a suburb of Detroit.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in