Republican Mike Rogers is courting Jewish Democrats in Michigan’s Senate race, running ads and deploying yard signs aimed at voters uncomfortable with their party’s nominee, Abdul el Sayed, a vocal Israel critic who defeated establishment favorite Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary earlier this month.
Rogers, who narrowly lost to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024 and remains a close Trump ally, released a campaign video the morning after el Sayed’s primary win telling Democrats: “If you’re among the majority of Democratic voters that woke up on Wednesday feeling, well, hopeless, because the person who won does not represent your values, well, just know there is still hope. You have a home with us.”
Jewish Democrats Featured in Latest Campaign Push
The Rogers campaign’s newest ad, released Tuesday, features a woman wearing a Star of David necklace who identifies herself as Chelsea from West Bloomfield and a “pissed off” and “lifelong” Democrat. She lists Stevens, Slotkin, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton among the Democrats she’s supported in past elections before announcing she’s now voting for Rogers.
The campaign is distributing “Democrats for Mike Rogers” yard signs and enlisting longtime Jewish Democrats for both advertisements and fundraising efforts.
El Sayed’s Socialist Ties Create Opening
Rogers is betting that el Sayed’s association with socialist figures and policies, combined with his strong criticism of Israel, has created an opening among moderate Democrats in the battleground state. El Sayed’s insurgent primary victory over Stevens, who had establishment backing, surprised many observers and left some traditional Democratic voters looking for alternatives.
“The fight is far greater than just Left vs. Right,” Rogers said in his post-primary video appeal.
Michigan’s substantial Jewish population, concentrated in areas like West Bloomfield, could prove decisive in what’s expected to be a tight race. Rogers lost his 2024 Senate bid to Slotkin by a narrow margin, making any crossover Democratic support potentially crucial to his chances in this election.
Key Points
- Rogers is running “Democrats for Mike Rogers” campaign targeting Jewish voters uncomfortable with el Sayed’s Israel criticism
- New ad features lifelong Democrat wearing Star of David saying she’s “pissed off” and voting Republican
- El Sayed’s upset primary win over establishment Democrat Haley Stevens created opening for crossover appeal
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4691366/mike-rogers-jewish-democrats-support-against-abdul-el-sayed-michigan-senate/ – August 19, 2026
