After narrow victory, El-Sayed faces skepticism from Jewish, Black Democrats

Following a narrow primary victory, Abdul El-Sayed faces the challenge of uniting Michigan Democrats, particularly among Jewish and Black voters, ahead of the November election against Republican Mike Rogers. El-Sayed won by one percentage point against four-term US Rep. Haley Stevens, 48.5% to 47.5%. Concerns have been raised by some Jewish Democrats regarding El-Sayed's past comments on "Jewish power, influence, money," which State Rep. Noah Arbit called "incredibly alarming and dangerous." Additionally, some Black voters are wary of El-Sayed's earlier involvement in the "uncommitted" effort against President Biden over the war in Gaza. Despite these divisions, party leaders, including former US Sen. Debbie Stabenow, emphasize the need for unity to defeat Rogers, stating, "If we are going to unify, if we are going to beat Mike Rogers, people have to be willing to listen to each other." El-Sayed has pledged to mend fences and unite the party, stressing that his criticism is directed at AIPAC and the Israeli government, not Judaism or Jewish people.