A bitter Michigan Senate race rattles Jewish and Muslim voters already on edge over the war in Gaza

In Michigan, the U.S. Senate race has taken on a new level of importance beyond simply determining which party holds power in Washington. The candidates, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, are now facing scrutiny from Jewish and Muslim voters concerning their respective stances on issues tied to the war in Gaza. Many voters in the Detroit suburbs are grappling with personal questions of faith and identity, weighing whether they can support their party's nominee.

In Dearborn, Arab American leaders who once backed President Donald Trump are now growing increasingly uneasy about the Republican party's rhetoric. This tension is further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has left communities already shaken by the war in disarray.

The bitter race pits Rogers, a former congressman, against El-Sayed, a former public health official who would be the country's first Muslim senator if elected on November 3rd. Rogers has been portraying El-Sayed as an extremist and a threat to Jewish voters, sparking heated emotions even before the election. In West Bloomfield, a synagogue recovering from an attack is just a half-hour away from the "Wall of Tears" memorial in Dearborn, which commemorates children killed in Gaza.

The political divide between Rogers and El-Sayed has even affected close friends like Lori Goldman and Mimi Price-Miletic. While Goldmann, a Jewish Democratic activist, deems Rogers' message a "fear campaign," Price-Miletic, a member of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus, remains undecided and avoids discussing the candidates altogether.

Rogers has been actively trying to win over Jewish voters, especially in the wake of the fierce Democratic primary between El-Sayed and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens. Stevens, a staunch supporter of Israel, received substantial funding from AIPAC during the primary. Rogers has been holding events in the area, including a recent gathering with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who emphasized the need for safety in light of the October 7th attack in Israel and the Temple Israel attack in West Bloomfield.

El-Sayed has condemned the Temple Israel attack but has faced criticism for his remarks about "hurt people hurting people." He later apologized, stating that his comments might have been hurtful to those affected. Rogers and his allies have repeatedly invoked El-Sayed's stance on terrorism, claiming that El-Sayed cannot condemn terrorism in the United States due to his close ties with the Muslim Brotherhood. However, there is no evidence supporting these allegations.

The Democratic party is still struggling to unite behind El-Sayed following the primary, as the controversy exposed deep divisions among Democrats.