In a significant move to mend fences with Jewish voters, Abdul El-Sayed Michigan’s Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, addressed the state’s Jewish Democratic Caucus at the party convention in Lansing on Saturday. His remarks came in response to criticism over comments he made following the March attack on Temple Israel synagogue in a Detroit suburb.
The incident, which saw Ayman Mohammad Ghazali ram his car into the synagogue and open fire on a security guard before dying by suicide, had sparked a heated debate. Ghazali had lost four relatives in an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon the week prior. El-Sayed’s initial response, which included the phrase “hurt people hurt people” was perceived by many as justifying the attacker’s actions.
El-Sayed’s Apology and Context
El-Sayed’s apology was a pivotal moment in his campaign, as he seeks to unify Democrats after a contentious primary where he defeated U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens. “My comments may have been misconstrued to justify something I did not mean to justify” El-Sayed told reporters. “To anyone who feels like my comments might have been hurtful, I’m really sorry. That was not my intention.”
The candidate clarified that his intention was to provide context but acknowledged that the timing was inappropriate. “What I was trying to do was offer context for why it happened, but it wasn’t the time for context” he explained. “And you don’t ever want to trample somebody’s pain.”
Outreach Efforts and Controversies
El-Sayed’s apology is part of a broader effort to engage with Jewish voters, a demographic he has struggled to connect with due to his past criticisms of Israel and his association with controversial commentator Hasan Piker. In recent days, he has minimized his critiques of Israel in his stump speeches and issued a statement distancing himself from Piker.
His nomination acceptance speech later that day made only one oblique reference to American support for Israel: “It shouldn’t be this hard to pay your taxes and know that that money’s going to be spent on you, and your kids, and your schools, instead of being dropped in the form of a bomb on somebody else, and their kids, and their school.”
Reactions from Jewish Democrats
The response from Jewish Democrats was mixed. While some appreciated his apology, others remained skeptical. Rebecca Kasen a Lansing-area Michigan Jewish Democrat, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that she was less comfortable with El-Sayed’s stance on the two-state solution.
“I really liked him apologizing for misspeaking. We’ve all made comments that we regret later on” Kasen said. “I was less comfortable with what he said about not supporting a two-state solution.”
Despite her reservations, Kasen noted that her opinion of El-Sayed had improved as a result of his apology. “Instead of just going to vote now, I am going to be enthusiastically voting for him” she added.
The Broader Political Landscape
The Michigan Senate race is shaping up to be a crucial battleground in the upcoming midterm elections. El-Sayed faces Republican nominee Mike Rogers and the outcome could significantly impact control of the Senate. The views of Michigan’s Jewish Democrats have come under intense scrutiny, with some longtime Democratic voters defecting to the Republican side.
At the convention, Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit the party’s progressive Jewish nominee for state attorney general, addressed the Jewish caucus. Notably absent was Attorney General Dana Nessel who had announced she would not attend due to fears of antisemitic harassment. Zach Nessel her son and secretary of the state Jewish Democratic caucus, criticized the party for failing to take prompt action against agitators at the spring convention.
As the election approaches, the focus remains on how El-Sayed and other Democratic candidates will address the concerns of Jewish voters and unite the party ahead of the critical midterm elections.
