Ex-Hillary Clinton staffer warns Democrats that courting far-left could cost them Jewish voters
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has warned that Democrats could lose Jewish voters if the party does not take their concerns about antisemitism more seriously before the midterm elections. Former Hillary Clinton campaign organiser Kaivan Shroff supported her argument, saying the dispute concerns whether Jewish Democrats feel accepted within the party, rather than simply disagreements over Israeli policy.
Nessel said Jewish Democrats had felt increasingly ostracised since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, and argued that their concerns were treated differently from those raised by other minority groups. Shroff highlighted Michigan’s competitive Senate race, where debate has focused on Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s association with streamer Hasan Piker, whose comments have drawn antisemitism allegations and condemnation from some Democrats.
- Nessel says Democrats risk alienating Jewish voters over antisemitism concerns.
- Shroff says the issue could affect Michigan’s crucial Senate race.
- Both urge Democrats to take Jewish constituents’ concerns more seriously.
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The Democratic Party is a broad US political coalition, including Jewish voters with differing views on Israel and the Palestinians. Since Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the war that followed, arguments over antisemitism and criticism of Israeli policy have become more prominent in US politics.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is a Jewish Democrat, while Kaivan Shroff worked as an organiser for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Michigan’s Senate contest is closely watched, and Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee; discussion of his association with streamer Hasan Piker has raised questions about how the party addresses comments accused of antisemitism.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Democrats have a duty to treat antisemitism as seriously as prejudice against any other minority group, particularly when Jewish members say that rhetoric and political alliances make them feel unsafe or unwelcome. Advocates of this view argue that criticism of an Israeli government is legitimate, but it must not slide into blaming Jewish Americans collectively or excusing hostility towards them. Taking such concerns seriously is both a matter of equal protection and essential to maintaining a broad electoral coalition.
The case against
Democrats can oppose antisemitism unequivocally while also making room for strong, good-faith criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and of US policy towards it. Advocates of this view argue that branding a wide range of progressive or pro-Palestinian views as far-left antisemitism risks silencing Jewish and non-Jewish voters who hold those views, including many motivated by human rights concerns. They contend that the party should reject genuinely prejudicial language without treating disagreement over Israel as evidence that Jewish Democrats are unwelcome.