[Peacearth, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons]

Democrats Nominate Pro-Hezbollah Candidate

Michigan Democrats on Sunday nominated Dearborn attorney Amir Makled to the University of Michigan Board of Regents, defeating incumbent Regent Jordan Acker in a move that has drawn criticism from Jewish leaders and underscored internal party divisions over Israel and antisemitism.

Makled, a progressive civil rights lawyer who represented pro-Palestinian students and alumni involved in 2024 campus protests, secured the endorsement at the party’s statewide convention, earning roughly 3,500 delegate votes to about 1,300 for Acker. Incumbent Regent Paul Brown, who like Acker supported disciplinary measures against protesters, was also renominated.

Acker, who has served on the board since 2019, faced repeated antisemitic vandalism at his home, office, and vehicle, along with threats to his family. His key “offenses” in the eyes of progressive activists included backing university efforts to hold anti-Israel protesters accountable for assaulting police officers and intimidating Jewish students, as well as opposing calls to divest the university’s endowment from Israel. Brown, his non-Jewish Democratic colleague who took similar positions, was not targeted for replacement.

Makled’s nomination comes amid scrutiny of his past social media activity. Reports indicate he reposted and later deleted content praising leaders of Hezbollah, including referring to former leader Hassan Nasrallah as a “martyr.” He also shared posts from Candace Owens that included antisemitic rhetoric, describing Israelis as “demons” who “lie, steal, cheat, murder and blackmail.” The Michigan chapter of the Service Employees International Union initially endorsed Makled but withdrew its support after the posts surfaced. Makled has not publicly addressed the content in detail.

The decision has been framed by critics as a signal of the party’s growing antisemitism and coincides with comments from Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who told CNN he views the Israeli government as “just as evil” as Hamas. In the same interview, El-Sayed suggested replacing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer with Chris Van Hollen. He recently campaigned with leftwing podcaster Hassan Piker, who said that America deserved 9-11.

 

The developments have fueled concern among some Jewish Democrats about their standing within the party. Analyst Josh Kraushaar wrote that the episode could mark a “tipping point” in the Democratic Party’s treatment of Jewish members and its posture toward Israel, noting that Acker was targeted while his non-Jewish colleague was not.

The contest unfolded amid a broader dispute over campus policy, with progressive groups such as the TAHRIR Coalition pushing to unseat Acker over his opposition to divestment during the Israel-Hamas war. Allegations emerged on both sides in the closing days of the race, including reports linking Acker to past lewd messages and renewed questions about Makled’s social media history.

The Board of Regents oversees the University of Michigan system, including financial management, tuition policy, and campus governance. The Democratic nominees will face Republican candidates in the November general election, though the party’s endorsement often proves decisive in the heavily Democratic state.

The episode adds to ongoing tensions within the party over campus protests, divestment demands, and responses to antisemitic incidents. Some observers, including Yehuda Kurtzer of the Shalom Hartman Institute, have urged American Jews to consider “political homelessness” amid what they describe as rising illiberalism in progressive circles.

[Read More: Chris Murphy Attacks America While In Spain]

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