The 2026 midterm elections mark “a fork in the road in terms of how Americans view the U.S.-Israel relationship, and that fork in the road is going to be reflected accordingly in the next Congress,” according to Haaretz U.S. bureau chief Ben Samuels. 

Focusing on the explosive race for the Senate in Michigan - where Democrat Haley Stevens just threw her support behind a Republican candidate over Democrat Abdul El Sayed - as well as other key contests in what is expected to result in a “blue wave” for the Democrats on election night, Samuels outlined the issues on voter’s minds regarding Israel and the cases the candidates are making, particularly to Jewish voters. 

Also on the podcast, Michigan voter Max Kresch, an Israeli-American who lives in Jerusalem and served in the IDF, explains why he chose to support Democratic candidate El-Sayed. Israelis, he said, need American politicians like El-Sayed to act as “partners that are willing to hold our politicians in check,” as long as the Israeli government is controlled by far-right extremists.

Read more on haaretz.com:

Democrat Haley Stevens Backs GOP in Michigan Senate Race After Israel Feud With El-Sayed

I'm an Israeli-American Jew. I Love Israel. I Voted for Abdul El-Sayed 

Mamdani and Trump Loom Over the Battle for Jewish Voters in a Key New York House Race

For Texas Jewish Voters, Israel Sharpens the Choice Between Talarico and Paxton

Antisemitism and Scandals Haunting GOP Give Democrats an Opening in Ohio