Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel will not attend the Michigan Democratic Party’s nominating convention next month, saying she expects to be harassed and does not feel welcome in her own party as concerns over antisemitism continue to unsettle Jewish Democrats.
During a roundtable with Jewish leaders and community members last week, Nessel said she had decided to stay away from the Aug. 29 convention. «I feel like my presence isn’t going to be welcome,» she said. «I don’t want to get chased around. I don’t want to get harassed. I don’t want to get yelled and screamed at. I don’t want to get booed off the stage, irrespective of what I’m saying. And I believe that if I go, that is what will happen because it’s been happening to me.»
Nessel, the first Jewish person elected Michigan attorney general, said party leadership had not adequately responded to her concerns about rising antisemitism within the Democratic Party, despite her reports that some members had harassed her.
Jessica Alexander, chair of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus, said she respected Nessel’s decision. Alexander, a professor at Eastern Michigan University, said she does not believe the party itself is antisemitic, but she acknowledged a rise in anti-Jewish attitudes among dissenters. «At this point, why should she put herself in a circumstance that feels untenable and reactionary?» Alexander said. «As active and dedicated members, we don’t feel or believe the Democratic Party is antisemitic, but the anti-AIPAC rhetoric circling many current campaigns is a dog whistle for classic anti-Jewish tropes.» Alexander said she still plans to attend the convention and expects a large turnout for her caucus.
A spokesperson for the Michigan Democratic Party said the party rejects «antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hateful conduct» and is working to ensure that party-hosted events are safe and secure for all attendees at the convention. The spokesperson did not directly address Nessel’s claims.
Nessel said the situation reflected broader changes in Democratic politics. She said society needed space for «intelligent discourse and debate» without threats, and acknowledged that «some things have changed» within the party.
This is not the first time Nessel has faced antisemitic threats. In 2023, she revealed that she was the target of a heavily armed defendant allegedly plotting attacks against Jewish elected officials in the wake of Israel’s war in Gaza. She also clashed with Representative Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan, after bringing charges against anti-Israel protesters at the University of Michigan.
Nessel is far from alone among Michigan Democrats who have voiced alarm. Mallory McMorrow, who has since suspended her Senate campaign, said during a May debate that disdain for Jewish people among Democrats was a growing problem. «At the Democratic convention, an attendee yelled an antisemitic slur at my husband, who is Jewish and was walking with my 5-year-old daughter. That is terrifying,» McMorrow said. Some Jewish Democrats have also said they would vote for Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers if progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed wins the upcoming Democratic primary.
The tensions around Nessel come as Michigan Democrats prepare for a hotly contested Senate primary on Aug. 4. The race between Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Representative Haley Stevens has been dominated by disagreements over U.S. policy toward Israel and the future direction of the Democratic Party. It has become one of the party’s most contentious races of the summer, with Jewish Democrats watching closely as the campaign draws to a close.
The convention Nessel plans to skip is scheduled for Aug. 29. In a statement, party officials said they are focused on making the event safe and secure for all attendees. Nessel, however, said she believes her presence would invite the same treatment she has already experienced.