Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, spent two days attempting to repair relations with Jewish Democrats after a contentious primary against Representative Haley Stevens. His outreach followed criticism over remarks made after a March attack on a synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, where a U.S. citizen of Lebanese descent drove a vehicle into a building full of preschoolers. Dr. El-Sayed had noted the assailant lost family in an Israeli airstrike, saying "Hurt people hurt people," while also denouncing antisemitism. At the Michigan Jewish Democratic Caucus in Lansing and a Sunday fundraiser, he apologized for the timing of his comments.

However, Zach Nessel, secretary of the caucus and son of Attorney General Dana Nessel, said the apology "didn't go far enough" and that Dr. El-Sayed hasn't done enough to earn an endorsement. Concerns also persist over his association with streamer Hasan Piker and criticism of Israel. With under 18,000 votes separating him from Stevens in the primary, Dr. El-Sayed faces former Representative Mike Rogers in a battleground race that could determine Senate control.

Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, are targeting his Israel stance to peel away Jewish voters. Campaign spokesman Cole Wozniak said Dr. El-Sayed will continue engaging Jewish communities and has hired a Jewish liaison to build a winning coalition.