Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced she will not attend next month’s state Democratic convention, saying she fears harassment and does not expect to be welcome. Speaking at a roundtable on antisemitism, Nessel said she has raised concerns with party leaders about past incidents and compared growing antisemitism on parts of the left to far-right extremist trends. Her boycott occurs amid a competitive Democratic primary between Abdul El‑Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens. Party officials say they are preparing security measures for the August 29 convention at the Lansing Center.
Michigan AG Dana Nessel Will Skip State Democratic Convention, Citing Safety Concerns
FILE - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel pauses during an interview with The Associated Press, Nov. 21, 2024, in Philadelphia.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she will not attend next month’s Michigan Democratic state convention because she fears for her personal safety and does not expect to be welcome, according to local reporting.
Speaking at a roundtable on antisemitism, Nessel — who is Jewish — said she has asked party leaders to address past harassment and believes attending the convention would subject her to more threats and abuse. "I feel like my presence isn't going to be welcome. I don't want to get chased around. I don't want to get harassed," she told the group.
"I don't want to get yelled and screamed at. I don't want to get booed off the stage, irrespective of what I'm saying. And I believe that if I go, that is what will happen because it's been happening to me."
According to reporting by the Michigan Advance, Nessel criticized state party leadership for an inadequate response to complaints she says she raised about members who have harassed her in the past. She also drew a controversial comparison between a perceived rise in antisemitism within parts of the political left and the spread of neo-Nazi groups on the far-right fringe.
Context and Political Stakes
Nessel's decision to skip the convention comes amid a heated Democratic primary in Michigan between progressive Abdul El‑Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens (D‑MI). Observers view the contest as a test of the Democratic establishment's ability to respond to growing progressive and democratic-socialist energy in the party.
Party Response
Derrick Honeyman, a spokesperson for the Michigan Democratic Party, told the Michigan Advance the party is working to ensure convention events are safe and secure for all attendees. "We reject antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hateful conduct," he said, adding that the party is coordinating with stakeholders and elected officials as it prepares for the convention at the Lansing Center on August 29.
The story was first reported on Mediaite and further covered by the Michigan Advance.
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