More than 400 Democratic Jewish Michiganders are backing Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and warning that they feel "threatened and alienated" by leftist candidate Abdul El-Sayed and his political allies. Prominent Democratic donor Rob Orley, a senior advisor for O2 Investments, is among the signatories. He previously donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns, according to FEC campaign filings — but now he and other prominent Jewish leaders are ditching El-Sayed for Republican candidate Mike Rogers.
"Many of us have been fiercely supportive of Democratic candidates and principles," a letter signed by Orley and hundreds of others stated. "If El-Sayed were to win the general election in this important swing state, we fear the far-left and anti-Jewish elements in the Democratic Party would become dominant, including in the imminent 2028 presidential race," the letter continues. "We cannot allow him to become the Democratic standard-bearer or Michigan’s senator." Fox News Digital reached out to O2 Investments for comment.
MICHIGAN SENATE HOPEFUL CALLS AIPAC DONATIONS 'LEGALIZED BRIBERY,' REMAINS SILENT ON OTHER DONATIONS The letter includes signatures from some of the most prominent members of Michigan's Jewish community, including Robert Gordon, the former president of Temple Israel, the state's largest Jewish congregation, which was the site of an antisemitic attack in March. Shayna Levine, the daughter of the leading rabbi at Temple Israel; David Propis, cantor of Congregation Shaarey Zedek; Laurence Deitch, who served as a University of Michigan regent; and Hannan Lis, a Weight Watchers executive, have also signed the letter declaring that they feel "threatened and alienated by the politics and allies embraced by Abdul El-Sayed." But former Rep. Andy Levin, who is Jewish, is claiming that opposition to El-Sayed among Jewish Democrats is a minority view and that his old foe, the American Israel Political Action Committee, is really driving the letter.
Levin lost his 2022 primary bid to Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., after AIPAC spent more than $4 million in the primary race against him. "It's not a surprise to me," Levin said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
"The people I know associated with it are all long-time AIPAC insiders and supporters." Levin added that AIPAC "represents a distinctly minority position about Israel and Palestine within the Jewish community." Levin, who was first elected to Congress in 2018 to replace his late father Sander Levin, gave his endorsement to El-Sayed in November 2025. "I am overwhelmed like literally every day except Shabbat — our sabbath on Saturday — with the incoming I get from Jewish people, young people, middle-aged people, older people, who are so mad about an effort like this and who want to do everything they can to make sure Abdul El-Sayed wins the election on November 3rd, that this U.S. Senate seat stays democratic, and that we do everything we can to save and expand our democracy," Levin continued.
However, attorney Daniel Cherrin, who signed the letter, told Fox News Digital that he has not attended an AIPAC event since college more than 30 years ago. Cherrin said he has tremendous respect for Levin, whom he has known for years, and previously worked with Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit and Wayne County. Although he considers El-Sayed a "good" person, Cherrin said he cannot overlook the movement backing his candidacy.
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