Democratic fundraiser David Kramer says he will vote for Republican Mike Rogers over Abdul El-Sayed
David Kramer, a Michigan Democratic fundraiser and former Haley Stevens and Elissa Slotkin campaign official, told Jewish Insider he will vote for Republican Mike Rogers rather than Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in the Senate race. He cited El-Sayed's recent remarks on Israel.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2David Kramer, a prominent Michigan Democratic fundraiser, told Jewish Insider that he plans to vote for Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers rather than Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's Senate election. Hot AirR “told Jewish Insider on Monday in an interview and written statement that, despite reservations, he plans to support Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers” Read at Hot Air ↗ Washington ExaminerR “said he is voting for former Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican, in Michigan’s 2026 Senate race.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 2Kramer chaired Rep. Haley Stevens' Senate campaign, was previously finance chair of Sen. Elissa Slotkin's Senate campaign, and is a board member of Democratic Majority for Israel, according to the two outlets. Hot AirR “who served as the chair of Rep. Haley Stevens’ (D-MI) Senate campaign” Read at Hot Air ↗ Washington ExaminerR “a board member of the Democratic Majority for Israel” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1Kramer said El-Sayed is "certainly not moderating at all" and is "becoming more extreme and more dangerous and less responsive to the Jewish community." Washington ExaminerR “Abdul is certainly not moderating at all, and I think really becoming more extreme and more dangerous and less responsive to the Jewish community” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Right · 2He named as his tipping point El-Sayed's remark in an ABC News interview that "Israel is not actually our friend"; Hot Air says Kramer called El-Sayed's comments a "bridge too far" and accused his campaign of linking America's problems to Israel and, by extension, to Jews. Washington ExaminerR “Kramer told the outlet that his tipping point was el Sayed saying “Israel is not actually our friend” in a recent interview with ABC News.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Hot AirR “went beyond even the candidate’s previous rhetoric and were a “bridge too far.”” Read at Hot Air ↗ Right · 2Kramer stressed he has "deep disagreements" with Rogers and would not use the word "support", but said he believes Rogers cares about Jewish safety and knows the difference between Iran and Israel; he also said he remains a "proud Democrat" working to elect other Democrats. Washington ExaminerR “I have lots of issues with Mike Rogers, and I’m not even willing to use words like ‘support,'”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Hot AirR “he remains a “proud Democrat” working to elect other Democrats on the ballot next week” Read at Hot Air ↗ Right · 1Hot Air reports that a week earlier Kramer and former state party chair Lon Johnson wrote in the Detroit Free Press that they would not vote for El-Sayed and that leaving the ballot blank was "an act of dignity." Hot AirR “for many of us, leaving the ballot blank is an act of dignity.” Read at Hot Air ↗
Right · 1El-Sayed has called Israel's military campaign in Gaza a "genocide" and criticised AIPAC, while saying he condemns antisemitism and will fight it, and he has rejected Republican accusations of antisemitism; Slotkin and Stevens have both endorsed him. Washington ExaminerR “calling the prime minister’s government’s military campaign in Gaza a “genocide””“Both Slotkin and Stevens have endorsed el Sayed for the Senate seat against Rogers.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1The race to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters is rated a toss-up by forecasters including the Cook Political Report; El-Sayed leads Rogers by an average of 2.5 points in RealClearPolitics polling, and Trump won Michigan in 2024 by 1.4 points. Washington ExaminerR “El Sayed leads Rogers in the polling by an average of 2.5 percentage points, according to the RealClearPolitics average.”“rated as a toss-up by major election forecasters, including the Cook Political Report” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present Kramer's decision as a damaging defection for El-Sayed. Hot Air makes it a sign Democrats are in trouble in Michigan, in a commentary tone. The Washington Examiner reports it more straightforwardly, with polling context and El-Sayed's own record on antisemitism.
- Emphasis
- Hot Air stresses El-Sayed's alleged extremism, Jewish and black voter shifts, Obama's Detroit appearance and a Rebellion PAC ad. The Examiner stresses Kramer's Democratic credentials, the Piker connection, and that the race is a toss-up with El-Sayed ahead in polling.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither carries a response from El-Sayed or his campaign to Kramer's charges. Hot Air does not note that El-Sayed leads in polls, and it presents the blood-libel characterisation largely as fact.
- Charged language
- “Bombshell”“propaganda that might have made Leni Riefenstahl blush”“Jew-hatred”“radicalism”
- For example
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“Have the wheels come off in Michigan for Democrats?” — Hot Air
“They are openly campaigning on Jew-hatred and "free Palestine," espousing Marxist ideology” — Hot Air
“Kramer’s defection from the Democratic candidate in favor of Rogers comes as el Sayed has struggled to shore up the Jewish Democratic vote” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Kramer told Jewish Insider he will vote for Mike Rogers over Abdul El-Sayed.
- Kramer worked on Haley Stevens' and Elissa Slotkin's Senate campaigns.
- Kramer cited El-Sayed's comments on Israel and said El-Sayed is not moderating.
Where accounts differ
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When Kramer spoke to Jewish Insider
- Right
- Hot Air says Monday; the Washington Examiner says Tuesday.
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Kramer's role in the Slotkin campaign
- Right
- Hot Air says finance chair of Slotkin's campaign and chair of Stevens' campaign; the Examiner calls him an alumnus of both campaigns.
Mike Rogers person
Rogers is the beneficiary of Kramer's vote. Kramer says Rogers is committed to keeping Jews safe, though Kramer has many disagreements with him. No comment from Rogers appears in the coverage.
“he believes Rogers is “committed to keeping Jews safe in Michigan and in the United States,”” — Washington Examiner
Abdul El-Sayed person
El-Sayed has criticised Netanyahu's government and AIPAC, called Gaza a genocide, and said Israel is not actually a friend; he also says he condemns antisemitism and will fight it. The coverage carries no direct response to Kramer.
“el Sayed has condemned and vowed to fight antisemitism throughout his campaign” — Washington Examiner
David Kramer person
Kramer describes himself as a proud Democrat who is voting for Rogers reluctantly, because he judges that more effective than leaving the ballot blank and because he sees El-Sayed as growing more extreme.
“He said that he ultimately felt that it was more impactful to vote for Rogers than to leave the Senate race blank, and to publicize his decision to do so.” — Hot Air
Elissa Slotkin person
Slotkin, whose Senate campaign Kramer served as finance chair, has endorsed El-Sayed.
“Both Slotkin and Stevens have endorsed el Sayed for the Senate seat against Rogers.” — Washington Examiner
Haley Stevens person
Stevens, whose Senate campaign Kramer chaired, has endorsed El-Sayed.
“Both Slotkin and Stevens have endorsed el Sayed for the Senate seat against Rogers.” — Washington Examiner
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Hot AirR ·
'Proud Democrat' Fundraiser Drops *Another* Bombshell on El-Sayed
Alarmist Opinionated blog post that treats Kramer's switch as evidence Michigan Democrats are collapsing and El-Sayed is dangerous.
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Haley Stevens and Elissa Slotkin campaign alumnus voting for Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate race
Neutral Straight news report on the defection, with El-Sayed's record, polling and race rating for context.
- 27 Oct 14:40 First Hot AirR 'Proud Democrat' Fundraiser Drops *Another* Bombshell on El-Sayed
- 27 Oct 18:12 +3h 32m Washington ExaminerR Haley Stevens and Elissa Slotkin campaign alumnus voting for Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate race
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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