Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for the Michigan Senate, recently apologized to Jewish Democrats for comments he made after a March attack on a synagogue near Detroit. This apology arrives as the Senate contest against Republican Mike Rogers remains highly competitive. Polls indicate either a narrow Democratic lead or a slight Republican advantage.
Apology and Its Context
El-Sayed’s apology comes in response to statements made after an attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township. The FBI linked the attack to Hezbollah inspiration. The assailant, Ayman Ghazali, crashed his truck into the synagogue, targeting the Jewish community.
“My comments might have been misconstrued to be justifying something I did not intend to justify,” El-Sayed told reporters. “To anybody who feels like my comments might have been hurtful, I’m really sorry. That was not my intention.”
The phrase “hurt people hurt people” used by El-Sayed drew sharp criticism. Critics argued it contextualized rather than condemned the attack, causing concern among Jewish Democratic leaders and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
El-Sayed’s Response
During his apology, El-Sayed expressed regret, admitting he should have solely condemned the attack initially. He aimed to provide a broader context but recognized the timing was inappropriate, failing to acknowledge the Jewish community’s pain.
Emphasizing his condemnation of the attack as terrorism, he stated, “We condemned that terrorist attack. We condemned it outright.”
“I made a mistake,” he said. “What I was trying to do is offer context for why it happened, but it wasn’t the time for context. And you don’t ever want to trample somebody’s pain.”
Jewish Democrats present during the apology perceived it as sincere. Daniel Rivkin, a delegate at the convention, noted it was the first time El-Sayed expressed his apology explicitly.
Impact on the Senate Race
Polling continues to indicate a competitive race between El-Sayed and Rogers. The New York Times’ polling tracker shows a tight contest. RealClearPolling’s average places El-Sayed slightly ahead at 46.3% to Rogers’ 44.5%. However, individual polls show variations.
- An EPIC-MRA survey showed El-Sayed leading 47% to 43%.
- A Fabrizio/Anzalone poll found a 1-point lead for El-Sayed, at 48% to Rogers’ 47%.
- Contrastingly, a Fox News poll had Rogers leading 51% to 47%.
El-Sayed enjoys support from progressives and younger voters. Yet, Republicans suggest his stances on Israel could alienate moderate and suburban voters crucial to a November victory.