Concerns Raised Over El-Sayed’s Rhetoric as Election Nears

Jason Turkish, who is engaged to Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), has announced his intention to vote for Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s upcoming Senate election. He expressed strong criticism of Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, alleging that El-Sayed’s rhetoric jeopardizes the safety of Jewish residents.

Turkish, a Jewish attorney and Democratic donor, made this statement shortly before the November 3 election. El-Sayed had previously defeated Stevens in the Democratic primary and later received her backing.

In an interview with The Detroit News, Turkish shared that his apprehensions regarding El-Sayed had intensified since the primary. He accused El-Sayed of promoting antisemitism and claimed that his critical stance on Israel could have serious repercussions for Jewish individuals in Michigan.

“I’ve noticed a significant increase in his rhetoric since the primary, and it creates an unsafe environment. Every time he discusses genocide in Gaza, it results in death threats against Jews,” Turkish explained.

Practicing disability and civil rights law, Turkish resides in Huntington Woods. He had hoped that El-Sayed would take the opportunity of the general election campaign to unify Democrats after a primary that highlighted divisions regarding Israel. Regrettably, he feels the campaign has only exacerbated those splits.

“We’ve never witnessed a U.S. Senate candidate act so carelessly regarding the safety of Jews in the community as we have with Abdul,” he remarked.

Turkish framed his support for Rogers as a matter of prioritizing the country over partisan lines.

In response, El-Sayed’s campaign highlighted their commitment to garnering support from a wide range of voters leading up to Election Day. Campaign spokeswoman Roxie Richner stated, “Abdul is focused on building a broad coalition to win Michigan and reclaim the Senate majority for Democrats. Our tent is big enough for all who wish to join.”

Turkish participated in an event for Rogers on October 28, hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. The forum centered on Jewish security in light of the recent October 7 attacks and the incident at Temple Israel.

Although Stevens has endorsed El-Sayed, The Detroit News noted that she has not actively campaigned alongside him since a Democratic unity breakfast following the August 4 primary.

In a CNN segment on Sunday, Stevens acknowledged Rogers’ outreach to black voters in Detroit. When asked if she continued to support El-Sayed fully, she referenced her position on the Democratic ticket, saying, “Look, I’m on the Democratic ticket. I can’t say that I agree with all that’s happened.”

Throughout the campaign, El-Sayed has consistently accused Israel of committing genocide. In an October interview with ABC News, he stated that Israel was “not actually our friend” and suggested that the country has entangled the U.S. in unnecessary conflicts.

Earlier this month, during a Senate debate, he avoided directly answering whether he viewed Israel or Iran as the greater threat, instead classifying both as perilous in their distinct ways.