Jewish Voice for Peace Action backs El-Sayed in Michigan Senate primary, its first Senate endorsement

Jewish Voice for Peace Action endorsed Abdul El-Sayed for the U.S. Senate seat in Michigan during the Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement Convention in Detroit on April 19. The endorsement marks the first time the group has backed a Senate candidate in the seven years since its 2019 founding.

El-Sayed is running in a three-way Democratic primary against Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow. The primary is set for August 4. Stevens holds support from the Democratic establishment and AIPAC, while McMorrow has backing from Sen.

Elizabeth Warren and J Street. El-Sayed has received endorsements from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Chris Van Hollen as well as Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Summer Lee. Beth Miller, JVP Action’s political director, said El-Sayed has been a stalwart defender of Palestinian rights.

She added that the campaign offers a chance to elect a leader who will fight for communities at home and reimagine U.S. foreign policy. A Zenith Research poll showed El-Sayed leading both Stevens and McMorrow in the primary.

The same poll found El-Sayed performing better than his rivals against Republican nominee Mike Rogers in a general election matchup. A separate June poll found 46 percent of Michigan voters support ending all U.S. weapons shipments to Israel.

Stevens supports continuing unconditional arms shipments. El-Sayed has criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza since before starting his campaign.

JVP Action backs the Block the Bombs bill and has supported candidates in House races in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.