Pelosi Breaks Ranks With Democrats, Sharply Rebukes El-Sayed: ‘We’ll See If He Gets Elected’

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly criticized Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed over his controversial views on Israel, exposing divisions within the Democratic Party just days before the November midterm elections. Although Pelosi later reaffirmed her support for the candidate, her initial remarks raised questions about disagreements among prominent Democrats over Israel and antisemitism.

The California Democrat made the comments during an appearance on the On Brand podcast with Donny Deutsch, who expressed concern about attitudes toward Israel within portions of the Democratic Party. Pelosi strongly rejected the position attributed to El-Sayed, suggesting that his views did not represent congressional Democrats.

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The exchange began when Deutsch, who is Jewish, discussed what he viewed as increasing hostility toward Israel among progressive Democrats. He argued that questioning Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state crossed a significant line and expressed disappointment with the direction of certain elements of the party.

When Pelosi asked for an example, Deutsch identified El-Sayed, who is competing against Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan’s Senate seat. He accused the Democratic nominee of opposing Israel’s identity as a Jewish state, prompting an unusually direct response from the former House speaker.

“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,” Pelosi said.

Referring specifically to El-Sayed, Pelosi added, “This new person in Michigan, we’ll see if he gets elected to the Congress.”

Her comments immediately attracted attention because El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee in a competitive Senate race. Pelosi’s willingness to publicly criticize his position highlighted disagreements that party leaders have struggled to navigate while attempting to maintain electoral unity.

🚨 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 repeatedly faced questions about his views on Israel, particularly regarding the country’s military operations in Gaza. He has described Israel’s actions as a “genocide” and questioned aspects of the relationship between Israel and the United States.

During an earlier interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, El-Sayed was asked whether he rejected Israel’s right to exist. He responded, “I do not. I just dispute the idea that you should have an ethnostate.”

The distinction has become central to the controversy surrounding his campaign. Critics argue that his position challenges Israel’s Jewish national identity, while El-Sayed maintains that criticism of the Israeli government should not automatically be characterized as antisemitism.

The Michigan Democrat has also emphasized his commitment to protecting Jewish Americans. During an August appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, he compared his concern for Jewish families’ safety with his responsibility to protect his own children.

Despite those assurances, the disagreement has continued to generate political attention. Pelosi’s remarks added a prominent Democratic voice to the debate, particularly because of her longstanding influence within the party.

Following the podcast appearance, Pelosi’s office released a statement clarifying that she remained committed to helping El-Sayed win the election. The statement sought to distinguish her disagreement with his position on Israel from her support for his Senate campaign.

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

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The statement emphasized their shared priorities, including lowering costs, protecting healthcare and defending democratic institutions. Pelosi’s office also urged Democrats to remain united ahead of Election Day.

Meanwhile, Republican nominee Mike Rogers has continued campaigning in a state expected to play an important role in determining control of the Senate. Michigan remains politically competitive after President Donald Trump carried the state by approximately 1.4 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.

Recent surveys suggest that the contest remains closely watched. A CNN poll conducted October 20–27 found El-Sayed leading Rogers 49% to 42% among 786 likely voters, with a reported margin of error of 4.7 percentage points. An Insider Advantage survey conducted October 21–22 showed a narrower 47% to 46% advantage for El-Sayed.

A separate Marist survey conducted October 15–18 placed El-Sayed at 50% and Rogers at 48%. With Election Day approaching, Pelosi’s criticism and subsequent clarification illustrate the difficult balance Democratic leaders face between addressing internal disagreements and supporting their nominees in competitive races.