Kathmandu— In Michigan, some centrist Democrats are actively undermining progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s bid for the Senate race, which could determine control of the chamber. These Democrats prefer to see a Trump-backed Republican win rather than risk a left-leaning victory within their party. Attorney General Dana Nessel and others have made controversial endorsements or public statements that suggest they would rather lose the seat than support El-Sayed.

Controversial Endorsements

Attorney General Dana Nessel’s endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed was met with skepticism. She referenced the biblical story of Queen Esther, urging Jewish Democrats to sacrifice their comfort and security for a greater cause. This unappetizing pitch has been seen as counterproductive by many. Bernie Sanders also noted that some Democratic officials view progressive candidates like El-Sayed as a threat to oligarchy and continued support for Israel.

Open Admissions of Sabotage

A group of Michigan Democrats circulated a letter stating they would vote for Republican Mike Rogers in November, fearing that an El-Sayed victory could lead to the far left dominating the Democratic Party. Rabbi Asher Lopatin and Detroit journalist Stacy Gittleman have also declared their support for Rogers over concerns about El-Sayed’s stance on Israel.

Focus on Hasan Piker

Centrist Democrats have been heavily focused on criticizing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who is allied with El-Sayed. This focus has overshadowed scrutiny of Republican Mike Rogers and his associations. Rep. Josh Gottheimer and others have tweeted extensively about Piker while largely ignoring Rogers.

(With inputs from Jacobin)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.