Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has publicly criticized Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed's past comments on Israel, describing views that deny Israel's status as a Jewish state as 'wrong.' Despite the sharp rebuke over foreign policy, Pelosi and her team explicitly urge voters to support El-Sayed to secure a Democratic Senate majority. Polls show El-Sayed holding a narrow lead over Republican Mike Rogers in the tight Michigan battleground race.
Pelosi's criticism of Democratic stances on Israel
- ▪Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed's past remarks on Israel during an appearance on the On Brand podcast hosted by Donny Deutsch, calling his views 'wrong'
- ▪Nancy Pelosi also expressed disagreement with statements made by Zohran Mamdani of New York City regarding Israel's status as a Jewish state
- ▪Nancy Pelosi stated on the On Brand podcast that progressive Democrats critical of Israel do not represent the consensus of the Democratic Party in Congress
El-Sayed's statements on Israel and Gaza
- ▪Abdul El-Sayed stated on Morning Joe in August 2026 that his commitment to Jewish safety is equal to his commitment to the safety of his own children
- ▪Abdul El-Sayed previously described Israel's military actions in Gaza as a 'genocide' and expressed the view that Israel is not a United States ally
- ▪Abdul El-Sayed stated in an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan that he does not dispute Israel's right to exist but disputes the concept of an ethnostate
Pelosi's support for El-Sayed's candidacy
- ▪Pelosi spokesperson Nicholas Martin confirmed Nancy Pelosi explicitly urged voters in Michigan and across America to support Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers for the United States Senate
- ▪Nancy Pelosi spokesperson Nicholas Martin stated that Pelosi remains united with Abdul El-Sayed to deliver major Democratic legislative priorities despite policy disagreements
Pelosi on Democratic midterm goals
- ▪Nancy Pelosi stated on the On Brand podcast in October 2026 that she hoped the Democratic Party would score big victories in the upcoming midterm elections
- ▪Nancy Pelosi wrote on social media platform X that Democrats are united to lower costs, protect healthcare, defend democracy, and win back the House and Senate
Polling in the Michigan Senate race
- ▪A Marist survey of 1,185 likely voters conducted October 15-18, 2026 found Abdul El-Sayed leading Mike Rogers 50 percent to 48 percent
- ▪An InsiderAdvantage poll conducted October 21-22, 2026 placed Abdul El-Sayed slightly ahead of Mike Rogers at 47 percent to 46 percent
- ▪A CNN poll of 786 likely voters conducted October 20-27, 2026 showed Abdul El-Sayed leading Republican Mike Rogers 49 percent to 42 percent in Michigan
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