Abdul El-Sayed underperformed with Jewish voters. Here’s what he has to say about it.
Yes, he ran behind. In an interview, the senator-elect acknowledged Israel was a source of disagreement, but said he’s not changing his position.
Abdul El-Sayed, the first Muslim senator-elect in U.S. history, underperformed with Jewish voters in Michigan, according to a POLITICO analysis of precinct-level results. While he secured 52.5% of the statewide vote, he trailed Democratic Gov.-elect Jocelyn Benson by 2 points overall, but a significant 15-point gap emerged in heavily Jewish communities.
El-Sayed faced criticism for his stance on Israel, particularly his calls to end U.S. military support to Israel and remarks after a March synagogue attack. Despite these controversies, he aimed to earn support from Jewish voters by emphasizing his agreement on various issues like unions, healthcare, clean air, and religious pluralism.
El-Sayed acknowledged his position on Israel would not change but expressed his intention to lead on shared values. However, some Jewish leaders and activists urged voters to blank their ballots or back Republican Mike Rogers, citing concerns over antisemitism. Despite these challenges, El-Sayed secured a statewide win, indicating that voters aligned with his stance on Israel.
His campaign highlighted a post-election analysis showing he only slightly trailed Slotkin in Jewish precincts, despite being heavily outspent. In Dearborn, a city with a significant Muslim population, El-Sayed won 82.5% of the vote, far surpassing Benson's 78.7%.
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