Jewish leaders in Michigan prepare to work with Abdul El-Sayed despite lingering concerns

Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed's victory has drawn mixed reactions from Jewish leaders, with some expressing optimism and others maintaining concerns about his stance on Israel. Jewish Federation of Detroit CEO Steven Ingber emphasized that the Jewish vote is not monolithic and that the Federation will work with all winners regardless of party affiliation.

El-Sayed faced criticism during his campaign for remarks regarding the March 2026 attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. While he later apologized, stating his comments were misconstrued, the American Jewish Committee's Detroit chapter noted that his anti-Israel rhetoric has alienated some supporters despite his historic election as the first Muslim U.S. Senator from the state.

Democratic strategist Julian Epstein predicted that El-Sayed's win could signal a broader shift among Jewish voters leaving the Democratic Party. Ingber urged community leaders to continue addressing antisemitism from both the far-left and far-right, asserting that it is an American problem rather than solely a Jewish one.

Read the full story at foxnews.com.