Michigan rabbis and Jewish leaders have circulated a petition with five demands for any Democratic candidate seeking their support. The "nonnegotiable" terms include supporting "Jewish sovereignty in Israel," a two-state solution, and welcoming full participation of Jews in American politics. Michigan Democratic nominee Abdul el Sayed is the likely target of this petition due to his past criticism of Israel's right to exist. A prominent Jewish leader, Rabbi Asher Lopatin, has pledged to support Republican candidate Mike Rogers, who is also courting Jewish voters ahead of the November 3 general election.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A group of Michigan rabbis and Jewish leaders has sent a "nonnegotiable" petition to Abdul el Sayed, the Democratic nominee for the state's open Senate seat, with five demands for his support. The petition includes requirements that el Sayed agree to support "Jewish sovereignty in Israel," back a "two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians", and welcome "full participation in American political life" for Jews. This comes after el Sayed criticized Israel throughout his Senate campaign, stating he doesn't believe in "ethno-states**" and that he opposes the Jewish state's right to exist. The rabbis are threatening to withhold support from el Sayed if these demands are not met, which could impact his chances with Michigan's Jewish voters who identify as Democratic.
Written for “Michigan Governor Campaign” on 2026-09-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.85 for article 7128 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-08
A group of Michigan rabbis and Jewish leaders is circulating a petition with five “nonnegotiable” demands for any Michigan Democratic candidate who wants their support.
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who → circulate → support
The letter appeared to be aimed at Abdul el Sayed, the Democratic nominee running for the state’s open Senate seat.
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letter → appear → seat
The petition makes it clear that candidates’ refusal to agree to the petition’s terms will result in a lack of support from Michigan’s Jewish voters who identify with the Democratic Party.
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who → make → Party
The terms include agreeing to support “Jewish sovereignty in Israel,” backing a two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians, and welcoming “full participation in American political life” for Jews, according to the New York Times.
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terms → include → Times
El Sayed has been very critical of Israel throughout his Senate campaign, opposing the Jewish state’s right to exist.
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Sayed → oppose → right
His rationale for that stance is that he doesn’t “believe in ethno-states,” the Democratic candidate told the New York Times in July before he won his primary.
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he → believe → primary
The petition rejects “cleverly worded arguments advanced to return the Jewish people to statelessness and powerlessness — a position that a supermajority of Jews everywhere recognize as genocidal,” the document states.
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document → reject → Jews
The letter does not directly name el Sayed, but it is targeted toward Michigan candidates.
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it → name → candidates
Since defeating the pro-Israel centrist Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in the Aug. 4 primary election, el Sayed has been trying to make amends with the Jewish community.
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Sayed → defeat → community
At a Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus event late last month, he apologized for saying that “hurt people hurt people” after a gunman targeted a Michigan synagogue in a Hezbollah-inspired terrorist attack on March 12.
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gunman → apologize → March
At the time, el Sayed was accused of antisemitism by members of his own party.
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Sayed → accuse → party
Soon after el Sayed made the apology, Vice President JD Vance denounced the Democrat’s initial statement on the synagogue attack as “very evil” while stumping for Michigan Republicans at a campaign event near Detroit.
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Vance → make → Detroit
In an additional knock against el Sayed, Vance revealed he hosted members of the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield at the rally.
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he → reveal → rally
The two have been feuding for weeks.
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two → feud → weeks
The primary purpose of Vance’s appearance at the campaign event was to lend his support to former Michigan Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who’s running against el Sayed for the seat held by retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI).
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who → lend → Peters
Rogers is actively courting the state’s some 130,000 Jewish voters as he makes his case against el Sayed, a practicing Muslim, in the lead-up to the Nov. 3 general election.
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he → court → election
It appears the Republican is seeing some success on that front.
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Republican → appear → front
Rabbi Asher Lopatin, a prominent Jewish leader from Ann Arbor and lifelong Democrat, pledged to support Rogers at one of his recent campaign events.
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Lopatin → pledge → events
“There are many things that he’ll probably vote for that I would disagree with,” Lopatin said of Rogers, “but I think for the long term of the Democratic Party and for the country, we need to defeat el Sayed.”
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we → be → Sayed
