Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, apologized Saturday to the state's Jewish Democratic Caucus for comments he made following an attack on a synagogue in March, which he had tied to Israel's actions in the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters after addressing the caucus at the Michigan Democratic Nominating Convention in Lansing, El-Sayed said his remarks may have been misinterpreted. "My comments may have been misconstrued to justify something I did not mean to justify," he told reporters. "To anyone who feels like my comments might have been hurtful, I'm really sorry. That was not my intention."
The apology represented El-Sayed's latest effort to unify the Democratic Party following a contentious primary election in which he defeated U.S. Representative Haley Stevens. The candidate has faced a series of controversies involving allegations of antisemitism in recent months.
El-Sayed's remarks about the synagogue attack and their connection to Middle East policy had drawn scrutiny from Jewish Democratic groups in the state. His decision to address the Jewish Democratic Caucus directly at the convention and offer a public apology came as he seeks to consolidate support ahead of the general election.
The nominee's campaign has worked to move past the primary disputes and build broader coalition support within the Democratic Party. The apology to the Jewish Democratic Caucus was part of that effort to address concerns raised by an important constituency within Michigan's Democratic base.