Times Jewish Voter List Draws Mockery Over Name
A New York Times list of Jewish voters backing Abdul El-Sayed for Senate in Michigan drew criticism after including a suspicious name.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Judaism
The New York Times published a list of more than 500 Jewish Michigan voters and leaders backing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for Senate. The list was promoted by the El-Sayed campaign and included a link to a public Google Doc managed by Michigan Jews for Democracy.
Why it matters
The episode raises questions about verification in published lists of political endorsements. It also highlights how competing groups of Jewish voters are openly contesting support in the Michigan Senate race.
The El-Sayed letter lists more than 500 signers, while a rival Michigan Jews Against Extremism letter backing Mike Rogers listed 561 names as of Tuesday. Hundreds of El-Sayed signers gave only a first name and last initial, so the full verification status of the list remains unclear.
The players
Jon Levine
A Washington Free Beacon reporter who publicly mocked the list on social media. He is known for coverage of antisemitism and Jewish affairs.
Michigan Jews Against Extremism
A group that organized a rival letter backing Republican Mike Rogers and checked signatories' Michigan residency.
The details
The Times initially reported on the letter on September 17, and the list was promoted by the El-Sayed campaign the same day. Washington Free Beacon reporter Jon Levine publicly mocked the list on Election Day for including the name 'Jack Mehoff' at No. 403, and records reviewed by The Post list someone by that name living on campus at Michigan State University.
Timeline
- September 17: The New York Times first reports on the Jewish voter letter.
- November 3: Jon Levine spots the 'Jack Mehoff' entry and posts mockery on X on Election Day.
Big Picture
Dueling signed letters from Jewish Michigan voters mirror a pattern in which campaigns court organized Jewish constituencies through public endorsement lists. This Michigan contest shows how such lists can now be contested within days by rival groups checking signatories.
Readers following the Michigan Senate race can compare the competing endorsement lists to judge the signatories' credibility. Voters weighing candidate support may also want to check the verification details each group has published.
The takeaway
Published endorsement lists carry weight only when signatories can be verified, so readers should check how a list was assembled. Comparing competing lists side by side gives a clearer picture of community support.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Judaism to see how Jewish communities engage with politics.
