A group of Black voters and Jewish Democrats in Michigan both expressed reluctance to support Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate in the state, during interviews on Monday.
“We went to Michigan, and we spoke to four total groups of Democratic voters, but two groups of Democratic voters here, who supported Congresswoman Haley Stevens in the Senate primary. And these are Wayne County Black voters and Oakland County Jewish Democrats,” MS NOW’s Elise Jordan said of the voter groups during a segment on “Morning Joe.”
The Jewish voters were very apprehensive about El-Sayed’s stance on Israel. Some of the Black voters told MS NOW that he hasn’t taken advantage of opportunities to help them understand who he is and argued that they weren’t going to vote for him just because he is a Democrat.
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“I think he’s taking advantage that we as Black people are Democratic, and he thinks we’re going to vote for him anyway. And I’m like, no sir. I’m like, to put uncommitted down on that little circle and move on,” one of the Black Michigan voters said.
“If you go to Congress to represent me, I need you to talk about what’s going on in this community,” the voter added.
One voter said Israel was very important to him, but also said he had a transgender daughter, which made him reluctant to support the Republican candidate in the Senate race, Mike Rogers.
“I have a transgender daughter who is 30, and I’m Jewish, and Israel is incredibly important to me. But a vote for Mike Rogers is a vote for my kid being oppressed and her rights being taken away,” one voter said.
“When I got into this race, I did so with the best interest of every single Michigander — regardless of political affiliation or background — in mind. To the Michiganders who are lifelong Democrats, if you’re looking at your party’s nominee today and don’t think his hatefulness and divisiveness is representative of your values, you have a home with us. We’re grateful for the support from Democrats we’ve received thus far and look forward to fighting for ALL Michiganders in the U.S. Senate,” Rogers told Fox News Digital in a statement.
El-Sayed’s campaign did not return a request for comment.
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One Michigan voter said that it felt like “Sophie’s choice” choosing between El-Sayed and Rogers.
“It’s like Sophie’s choice quite honestly. You know, I love some of the things he’s talked about. I think it’s a little idealistic and a little extreme, and I’m a little concerned. But, you know, my big block is, it just comes down to this whole thing with Israel,” another voter said.
A Fox News poll released on Sept. 30 found the race was tight, with El-Sayed with a slim 1-point edge against Rogers, 50-49%, among Michigan likely voters.
Yet among registered voters, the preference is almost identical, 51% El-Sayed vs. 48% Rogers. That’s a reversal since August, when Rogers was ahead by 4 points among registered voters, 51% to El-Sayed’s 47%.
El-Sayed has come under fire over his ties to Hasan Piker, the far-left streamer who has campaigned with the Senate candidate. Piker has argued that America is “Pound for pound” worse than al Qaeda, “as far as the number of deaths.”
Piker said, “We have caused tremendous terror all around the world.”
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Another Michigan voter said during the segment, “On one hand, I’m like, OK, well, the choice is clear, but then all of a sudden it’s like, I can’t vote for Abdul because, once again, he’s going against something that’s innately me.”
A Jewish Democratic voter revealed during the discussion that she might vote for Rogers because of her daughter.
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She said, “My daughter goes to University of Detroit Mercy, she’s in her second year of law school, and she has to hide being Jewish. And it’s a hard thing to say. When Oct. 7 came, horrible for her, lots of tears. I may go to Mike Rogers. Sorry, guys.”
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The group told her not to apologize, and said she deserved to feel comfortable with whoever she voted for.
Jordan also spoke about the race with a group of Michigan voters who expressed regret over their past support for President Donald Trump. Of the six voters who were certain of their choice, five said they would support El-Sayed over Rogers.