The short version
- The contest between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has deepened divisions within Jewish and Muslim communities in Michigan, particularly in Detroit suburbs.
- Rogers is campaigning on national security concerns, linking El-Sayed to extremist groups despite a lack of evidence regarding current affiliations.
- Voters are grappling with conflicting loyalties as the war in Gaza influences local political dynamics and personal relationships.
The United States Senate race in Michigan has evolved into a focal point for broader anxieties surrounding the war in Gaza, creating significant friction within Jewish and Muslim communities across the state. In the Detroit suburbs, voters are navigating complex questions of faith and political identity as they decide whether to support their party’s nominee. The contest pits Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman, against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official who would become the nation’s first Muslim senator if elected in November.
Rogers has adopted a strategy centered on portraying El-Sayed as an extremist threat to Jewish voters, aiming to capture a constituency that traditionally leans Democratic. This approach includes sharing social media posts that label El-Sayed a terrorist and laughing at remarks from other Republicans suggesting the candidate slept in an Osama bin Laden jersey. These tactics are designed to resonate with Jewish voters who were previously engaged in a fierce primary battle between El-Sayed and Representative Haley Stevens, a staunch supporter of Israel.
The emotional landscape of the race is heavily influenced by recent violent events and ongoing international conflict. In West Bloomfield, a synagogue that survived an attack earlier this year sits just miles from the Wall of Tears in Dearborn, which memorializes children killed in Gaza. The proximity of these sites underscores the raw emotions driving voter sentiment. Lori Goldman, a Jewish Democratic activist, described Rogers’ messaging as an insidious fear campaign that is spreading widely and effectively through the community.
Conversely, other members of the Jewish community remain skeptical of El-Sayed. Mimi Price-Miletic, a member of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus, has chosen not to support him and has not ruled out voting for Rogers. She noted that the political divide has strained personal relationships, including her friendship with Goldman, leading them to avoid discussing the candidate entirely. This polarization reflects the broader difficulty many voters face in reconciling their party loyalty with concerns about security and foreign policy.
Rogers’ campaign efforts have concentrated on Oakland County, a region with a significant Jewish population that was central to the Democratic primary. Vance Patrick, chair of the Oakland County Republican Party, indicated that Rogers is making headway among Jewish voters who are now listening more closely to Republican arguments. The campaign has included visits to synagogues such as Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, which was targeted in March by a man who rammed a truck loaded with fireworks and gasoline into the building.
The attacker, a naturalized citizen from Lebanon living in Dearborn Heights, had recently lost family members in an Israeli airstrike. El-Sayed condemned the attack but faced criticism for initially stating that hurt people hurt people. He later apologized to anyone who found his comments hurtful. Rogers and his allies have repeatedly cited these remarks to argue that El-Sayed is unable to properly condemn terrorism due to alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration earlier this year.
President Donald Trump escalated the rhetoric by claiming El-Sayed is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. However, there is no evidence supporting current affiliation. El-Sayed’s half-sister posted on social media in 2012 that their family had long been involved with the group, describing conversations with their mother about involvement in the early 1970s. El-Sayed, who was raised by his father after being born to Egyptian immigrant parents, dismissed these posts as hearsay during a recent interview.
As the election approaches, the race continues to highlight the intersection of local politics and global conflicts. Voters are weighing security concerns against party loyalty, while community leaders struggle to address the deepening divisions. The outcome may signal broader shifts in how Jewish and Muslim voters engage with political candidates in the wake of ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- PBS NewsHour↗A bitter Michigan Senate race rattles Jewish and Muslim voters already on edge over the war in Gaza
