Jewish Voice for Peace Action Endorses Abdul El-Sayed Ahead of Michigan U.S. Senate Primary

Jewish Voice for Peace Action (JVP Action) officially endorsed Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's U.S. Senate race on Monday, with Beth Miller saying, "JVP Action is incredibly proud that our first ever Senate endorsement will be for Dr. Abdul El-Sayed."

The Deadline Detroit report says El-Sayed has spoken out against U.S. aid to Israel and told CNN in April, "Yes, killing tens of thousands of people makes you pretty damn evil."

Al-Najah Al-Ikhbari

Deadline Detroit also describes backlash in Metro Detroit and beyond, including criticism of El-Sayed’s stance on Israel and his labeling of the war in Gaza as "genocide."

The Intercept frames the endorsement as JVP Action backing its first-ever Senate candidate, saying, "Abdul has been a stalwart and unapologetic defender of Palestinian rights and freedom."

Ahead of the Aug. 4 Democratic U.S. Senate primary, the Intercept describes El-Sayed as locked in a contentious three-way race with Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi reports that Michigan Senate candidate Abdullah Al-Sayed replied to an American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) warning by saying, "I am Abdullah Al-Sayed and I endorse this message," in a sardonic reference to AIPAC’s statement.

The same report says AIPAC warned that progressive candidates pose a "direct threat to the U.S.-Israel relationship" and described the effort as "a coordinated and well-funded effort to punish anyone who stands with Israel."

Al-Yawm as-Saba'

عربي21 similarly says Al-Sayed, the doctor and public health activist, replied with the same line, "I am Abdullah Al-Sayed and I endorse this message," and argued that AIPAC campaigns primarily target political figures who support Palestinian rights.

Deadline Detroit adds that some in the Jewish community were upset about El-Sayed’s willingness to campaign with Hasan Piker, noting Piker has faced accusations of antisemitism and has questioned whether America “deserved” 9/11.

The Intercept says moderate Democrats condemned El-Sayed’s decision to invite Hasan Piker to a pair of campaign rallies at Michigan universities in the spring, claiming it was insensitive after a March shooting at a Michigan synagogue.

Deadline Detroit says the endorsement is tied to El-Sayed’s broader foreign-policy stance, including his opposition to U.S. aid to Israel, and it quotes him telling CNN, "We can say both."

Detroit Free Press places the race in a wider electoral timeline, saying Michigan's Aug. 4 Democratic U.S. Senate primary will test competing arguments and that the top Democratic vote-getter will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

Detroit Free Press describes El-Sayed as the farthest left of three candidates, calling him a proponent of policies like Medicare For All, an 8% tax on billionaires, abolishing U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and halting U.S. arms sales to Israel.

The Intercept says the nominations signal a shift in the Democratic Party and its electorate, adding that El-Sayed has positioned himself to the left of both opponents and has been a vocal critic of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

It also notes that JVP Action is building off momentum from Democratic primaries and that its political advocacy and lobbying arm is a main backer of the Block the Bombs bill in the House, described as a litmus test for progressive candidates.