Michigan Republican Party Chairman Jim Runestad stated he is confident that opposition to Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed will lead to significant Jewish voter defection from the Democratic Party on Election Day. This prediction comes as approximately 500 Jewish Democrats and independents in Michigan signed an open letter endorsing Republican candidate Mike Rogers, describing him as a "friend to the Jewish community" and warning that an El-Sayed victory could empower "far-left and anti-Jewish elements" within the Democratic Party.
The political friction intensified after El-Sayed released a social media video depicting him observing Rosh Hashanah with two Jewish women who are known for pro-Palestinian activism. Critics, including Democratic state Representative Noah Arbit, labeled the video as "tokenism," arguing it was designed to appeal to non-Jews rather than the Jewish community. Runestad argued that El-Sayed's "off-the-charts comments" and associations are striking fear into the Jewish community in Michigan.
What the Right Is Saying
Michigan GOP Chairman Jim Runestad asserted that Democratic Jewish donors are expressing significant angst over El-Sayed. "His off-the-charts comments and his associations are actually striking fear into the Jewish community here in the state of Michigan," Runestad said. He predicted a "real sea change" in Oakland County, home to a large Jewish community, and suggested that Republicans have an opportunity to shift long-term Jewish political alignment by emphasizing shared values such as entrepreneurship, lower taxes, and reduced regulation.
The Rogers campaign reported positive engagement with Jewish voters, with a source telling Fox News Digital that their social media inboxes are "constantly" filled with positive messages and that they have been "inundated" with outreach. Runestad specifically highlighted Hasan Piker, whom he described as El-Sayed's "right-hand man," citing Piker's comments as a primary concern for Jewish voters. "The Jewish community is becoming more and more aware of just how dangerous someone like Hasan Piker is and his connection to El-Sayed," Runestad stated.
What the Left Is Saying
El-Sayed's campaign dismissed concerns regarding his proximity to political commentator Hasan Piker, stating that Piker's presence is insignificant to Michigan voters. El-Sayed previously described Piker's assertion that America "deserved" 9/11 as "dumb" and has pushed back against claims that his campaign is struggling among Jewish voters. A campaign spokesman noted that El-Sayed is grateful for conversations with Jewish leaders across the state and remains engaged in building a coalition to defeat Rogers and restore Democratic control of the U.S. Senate.
Internal criticism from within the Democratic party also emerged. State Representative Noah Arbit, who represents West Bloomfield, a town with a substantial Jewish population, publicly criticized the outreach video. "Man I really hate tokenism," Arbit wrote on social media. Jonathan Greenberg, a rabbi leading antisemitism combat efforts at a conservative advocacy group, argued that the video was not designed for the Jewish community but for non-Jews concerned about bigotry who might not immediately question the candidates' religious familiarity.
What the Numbers Show
Approximately 500 individuals identifying as Jewish Democrats or independents in Michigan signed the open letter endorsing Mike Rogers. The letter explicitly stated that support for Rogers is specific to "this year and in this Senate race," and that signatories do not necessarily support President Donald Trump. El-Sayed's Rosh Hashanah video generated thousands of interactions across X and TikTok, indicating high engagement with the controversy. While Rogers may gain Jewish support, El-Sayed retains strong backing in Michigan’s Arab American community, particularly in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, where he won the Democratic primary by a commanding margin.
The open letter endorsing Rogers warned that an El-Sayed victory would allow "far-left and anti-Jewish elements" to become dominant in the Democratic Party. Runestad claimed the Rogers campaign's social media inboxes are "constantly" receiving positive messages from Jewish voters, though the campaign did not provide specific quantitative data on this engagement. The political landscape in Michigan remains competitive, with the Senate race characterized by razor-thin margins in previous cycles.
The Bottom Line
The Michigan Senate race is increasingly defined by cultural and ideological alignments within specific demographic groups, particularly Jewish voters in Oakland County and Arab American voters in Wayne County. While the Rogers campaign seeks to capitalize on Jewish Democratic dissatisfaction with El-Sayed's progressive allies, the El-Sayed campaign relies on its strength in other diverse communities. The impact of the "tokenism" critique and the endorsement by Jewish Democrats will be a key factor in voter turnout in the final days before Election Day. It remains unclear if the Jewish defection predicted by Runestad will extend down-ballot or remain isolated to the Senate contest.