Abdul El-Sayed is facing a petition from more than a dozen Michigan rabbis and Jewish leaders who on September 8, 2026, urged Democratic candidates to accept five “nonnegotiable” principles on Jewish safety and Israel.
The petition, circulated by clergy and community leaders in Michigan, was signed by 15–16 rabbis and cantors and outlines five demands including “Jewish safety,” “Jewish sovereignty in Israel” and full civic participation, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.
The petition does not name El-Sayed but was widely understood as a rebuke of the Democratic Senate nominee’s past statements criticizing Israel and his reluctance to say outright that Israel has a right to exist, The Hill wrote. The petition’s organizers were identified by JTA as Rabbi Aaron Starr and Rabbi Josh Whinston.
JTA reported the initiative is backed by Zioness Action Fund, an advocacy group tied to the progressive Zionist group Zioness, and that the campaign’s leaders said the open letter was intended for any candidate who seeks Jewish votes in Michigan.
El-Sayed has apologized this year to Michigan Jewish Democrats after comments about a synagogue attack, and his campaign has been making outreach efforts, including hiring a Jewish liaison, sources told JTA, though the leaders behind the petition said more is needed.
The petition frames its demands as baseline requirements for leaders who want Jewish voters’ support and says signers will withhold endorsements until those principles are met. The Hill noted the letter said American Jews feel forced to “fight for the party they long claimed as their political home.”
El-Sayed is running in a competitive Michigan Senate race against Republican Mike Rogers, and the petition adds a new point of contention as Democrats try to unify after a fractious primary, The Hill reported.
For background on El-Sayed’s outreach after the primary, see the campaign apology coverage and related reporting in our archive.
Related internal coverage: El-Sayed apologizes to Michigan Jewish Democrats and VP Vance calls El-Sayed ‘very, very evil’ in Michigan.
Sources
- The Hill — reported the petition launch, its signatories and excerpts of the letter.
- Jewish Telegraphic Agency — provided the text of the five “nonnegotiables,” the names of organizers and backing from Zioness Action Fund.
