Democrats’ divisions over Israel resurfaced in the final days of Michigan’s closely watched Senate race, after Representative Haley Stevens withdrew her endorsement of primary winner Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and endorsed Republican nominee Mike Rogers, a former congressman. Stevens cited El-Sayed’s rhetoric on Israel, among other issues.
The move, made the weekend before the election, surprised and dismayed fellow Democrats. It also highlighted a dispute expected to continue as the new Congress takes office and the party approaches an open 2028 presidential primary.
Democratic lawmakers and candidates have become more critical of Israel’s government since the start of the war in Gaza, reflecting a wider shift in opinion among party voters. A May New York Times/Siena poll found that three-quarters of Democratic voters opposed U.S. economic or military support for Israel.
That change has unsettled other Democrats, who caution against distancing the United States too far from a close ally and say criticism of Israel has sometimes crossed into antisemitism. The party had hoped to set the debate aside ahead of Tuesday’s elections, but the Michigan race brought it back into focus.
Brad Lander, a Jewish New York Democrat who won a House primary this year and campaigned for El-Sayed, called the issues agonizing. Lander has accused the Israeli government of genocide in Gaza and said the party’s dilemma is likely to continue.
Sources: The New York Times Politics.