Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly rebuked Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed over his controversial views on Israel, delivering an unusually blunt condemnation shortly before voters head to the polls.

The California Democrat made the remarks during an appearance on the On Brand podcast. Host Donny Deutsch raised concerns about growing antisemitism within the Democratic Party, but Pelosi did not rush to defend her party’s Senate nominee.

“No, it’s more than concerning. It’s wrong. It’s wrong, and it isn’t a reflection of the Democrats in the Congress of the United States. This new person in Michigan, we’ll see if he gets elected to the Congress.”

The exchange created another uncomfortable moment for El-Sayed, whose campaign against Republican Mike Rogers has faced controversy over El-Sayed’s positions on Israel and concerns among Jewish voters.

Deutsch, who is Jewish, began the discussion by describing his frustration with the direction of certain Democratic factions. His criticism focused on those who reject Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

“It’s hard and sad, and it’s upsetting to see so much of what’s going on in the Democratic Party as a Jewish man; it’s almost unbelievable,” Deutsch said. “When you say Israel doesn’t have the right to be a Jewish state, that’s antisemitic as far as I’m concerned.”

When Pelosi asked Deutsch for a specific example, he pointed directly to El-Sayed. Deutsch said the Michigan candidate “doesn’t believe they should be a Jewish state.”

Pelosi immediately called the position wrong and separated it from congressional Democrats. Her response landed at a politically sensitive time for El-Sayed, who has repeatedly faced questions about Israel and confronting antisemitism.

Pelosi rips Abdul El-Sayed, says his views on Israel are "more than concerning":

“This new person in Michigan, we’ll see if he gets elected.” https://t.co/zRtjdLvfPx — Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 30, 2026

El-Sayed has characterized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as a “genocide” and previously questioned whether Israel should be considered an American ally. He has also rejected the idea that criticism of Israel’s government automatically amounts to antisemitism.

Journalist Mehdi Hasan previously asked El-Sayed whether he disputed Israel’s right to exist. El-Sayed replied, “I do not. I just dispute the idea that you should have an ethnostate.”

That distinction has not ended the controversy, especially among voters who believe his position challenges Israel’s identity as a Jewish state. El-Sayed has nevertheless maintained that protecting Jewish Americans remains a priority.

“My commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own kids. We have a responsibility to take on antisemitism in all of its forms wherever we see it,” he told Morning Joe in August.

Pelosi’s office later clarified that she still supports El-Sayed’s election despite their disagreements. The statement urged Democrats to rally behind the party’s nominee in Michigan.

“Speaker Emerita Pelosi urges everyone in Michigan and across America to support Abdul El-Sayed and help elect him to the United States Senate.”

“While they may disagree on some issues, she is united with him in the fight to lower costs, protect healthcare and defend our democracy. The stakes in this election could not be higher, and she believes all Democrats must come together to win back the Congress and deliver for the American people.”

The clarification exposed the Democratic Party’s challenge as it tries to address internal disputes over Israel while maintaining support for its candidates before Election Day. Rogers, meanwhile, has continued campaigning against El-Sayed in Michigan.

President Donald Trump carried the battleground state by 1.4 percentage points in 2024. Recent polling shows a competitive Senate contest, though the surveys offer different pictures of the race.

A CNN survey released Thursday showed El-Sayed receiving 49% support while Rogers received 42% among 786 likely voters surveyed from Oct. 20 through Oct. 27. The survey had a margin of error of 4.7 percentage points.

Insider Advantage found a much narrower contest, with El-Sayed at 47% and Rogers at 46%. That Oct. 21 through Oct. 22 survey included 1,200 likely voters and had a margin of error of 2.83 percentage points.

A Marist survey conducted from Oct. 15 through Oct. 18 placed El-Sayed at 50% and Rogers at 48% among 1,185 likely voters. Pelosi ultimately reaffirmed her support, but her public criticism made her disagreement with El-Sayed unmistakable.

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