Full Breakdown
Jewish Leaders Petition Michigan Democrats Over Safety Concerns at Upcoming Convention
8/12/2026, 4:49:07 AM
Safety Concerns Ahead of the August Convention
A group of Michigan rabbis and other Jewish figures delivered a petition to Curtis Hertel Jr., chair of the state Democratic Party, urging the party to publicly promise that anyone who harasses Jews at the upcoming convention in August will be arrested and prosecuted. The request follows Attorney General Dana Nessel’s decision not to attend the convention because she feared targeted harassment.
Petition and Signatories
The petition, signed by roughly 200 individuals, was organized and delivered by Rafael Medoff, director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies. Signatories include Rabbi Etan Tokayer, president of the Rabbinical Council of America, and historian Gil Troy, among other rabbis and Jewish academics from across the country. Most signatories reside outside Michigan. The letter does not mention Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, whose campaign has drawn criticism from Jewish Democrats for his rhetoric on Israel and perceived equivocal response to the March Temple Israel attack in West Bloomfield. El-Sayed, in his victory speech after the April 19, 2026 nominating convention, said his commitment to Jewish safety is the same as his commitment to his daughters.
Reactions from Party Leaders and Jewish Organizations
Halie Soifer, chair of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) and a Michigan native, wrote that tolerance of antisemitism in Democratic spaces must end and called for clear action from El-Sayed, urging him to stand with and defend Nessel and other Jewish Democrats. The JDCA announced it will focus its campaign season on electing Democrats who share its values, emphasizing that the Jewish vote is a critical component of a winning Democratic coalition in the swing state. An El-Sayed campaign spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Prior Incidents and Context
The last Michigan Democratic convention, held in April, was described by many Jewish attendees as a toxic environment. Controversial nominations included a pro-Hezbollah candidate and far-right commentator Candace Owens for the University of Michigan board of regents. Attendees also reported antisemitic remarks directed at Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow’s Jewish husband. Michigan is home to more than 100,000 Jews, two-thirds of whom identify as Democrats according to a 2020 Brandeis University survey.
Impact on Michigan Democratic Politics
The petition underscores growing anxiety among Jewish Democrats that antisemitism could undermine the party’s coalition in a pivotal swing state. By demanding explicit law-enforcement commitments and urging El-Sayed to take a stronger stance, Jewish leaders aim to shape the party’s approach to security and rhetoric ahead of the August convention and the broader 2026 election cycle.
