A former member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) residing in Michigan has issued a serious warning regarding extremism within American politics. Jake Altman, who previously worked with various labor unions, criticized far-left Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, labeling him as both dishonest and “sanctimonious.”
Altman emphasized the importance of civic engagement, saying, “I think it’s up to everyone — Democrats, Republicans, Independents — not to just sit back. We need to support candidates who genuinely care about this country and the people of Michigan.” He expressed concern about the influence of extreme leftist politics infiltrating the Democratic Party, stating that it feels reminiscent of sectarian strife often seen elsewhere.
Reflecting on his past with the DSA, Altman noted that the organization faced significant changes after 2014 and 2015, revealing that it began welcoming more radical factions, including Marxists and Leninists. He believes that at that time, such figures were also gaining power within labor unions, using well-meaning workers as tools in a larger political strategy to shift the Democratic Party further leftward. It was during this period that Altman decided to distance himself from the movement, feeling it was becoming increasingly vulnerable to extremist influences.
“That’s not the America we want,” he remarked. “We desire a broad and tolerant society. We need to reject divisive and aggressive politics.” Altman voiced his frustration about the growing tensions between the DSA and the mainstream Democratic Party, particularly in Michigan, where El-Sayed is struggling to garner support from moderate party members.
Having met El-Sayed on several occasions, Altman mentioned, “I worked closely with his father when he was union president. So, I feel like I understand him pretty well.” His connection to the El-Sayed family includes working with Mohamed El-Sayed, an engineering professor and former union leader who notably led a faculty strike in 2022.
At a recent Democratic convention, Altman recounted an encounter with Abdul, who recognized him in a queue and asked, “Why all the hate?” This was in light of Altman’s critical stance on El-Sayed’s campaign activities. According to Altman, Abdul insisted that his campaign avoided negative tactics.
However, Altman dismissed this assertion, saying, “He’s not a straight shooter. He claimed that his primary opponent couldn’t even put together coherent sentences. It’s just not true that he rises above the fray. He embodies the most sanctimonious aspects of Democratic politics.” He expressed his view that the DSA has transformed beyond recognition over the past decade, noting that the previous membership was more tolerant and engaged constructively with the broader Democratic Party.
He reminisced about the earlier DSA’s firm stance against communism, which has now shifted, as the organization recently lifted restrictions on the involvement of Leninists, allowing for the rise of more extreme elements within its ranks.
Concerned about the direction of the DSA under current leadership, Altman criticized co-chair Megan Romer for her Marxist-Leninist views and her support of the Cuban regime, recounting her trip to Cuba where she made various controversial statements.
Meanwhile, Abdul El-Sayed continues to campaign for moderate support as he faces a competitive race against Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers in the 2026 midterms, which will be pivotal for the Democrats’ control of Congress.
El-Sayed has faced scrutiny over his connections with socialist streamer Hasan Piker, whom he brought along during his campaign. In light of Piker’s provocative past comments, including controversial statements about 9/11 and capitalism, El-Sayed has opted to downplay their relationship, describing Piker merely as a “streamer from California” with little relevance to the Michigan election.
