Dems Make A Stunning Switch And Backlash Is Building Fast

Democrats in Michigan nominated a Muslim attorney who has honored terrorists for a position on the University of Michigan’s Board of Regents.

At the Michigan Democratic Party’s nominating convention on Sunday night, delegates chose Amir Makled over incumbent regent Jordan Acker for a seat on the board that controls the university’s budget and leadership appointments, The Detroit News reported. The contrast in the race could not have been clearer for Democratic delegates, who ultimately picked a Muslim who recently shared a post that referred to Israelis as “demons” over a Jewish regent who has faced antisemitic attacks.

Last June, Makled shared a post that called former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah a “martyr,” less than a year after Nasrallah was taken out in an Israeli airstrike. Another post shared by Makled honored Hezbollah official Abu Ali Khalil as a “martyr on the road to Jerusalem.”

In July 2025, Makled shared a post from Candace Owens, in which Owens referred to Israelis as “demons” who “lie, steal, cheat, murder, and blackmail.” The Muslim lawyer has since deleted those social media posts.

Makled secured the nomination over Acker, who has faced antisemitic threats from anti-Israel radicals following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. In December of 2024, Acker’s home was vandalized and damaged, and his wife’s car was spray painted with the words “Divest” and “Free Palestine.” Anti-Israel radicals also vandalized Acker’s law firm building, which police investigated as a hate crime, CNN reported.

Last year, Acker, along with regents Mark Bernstein and Sarah Hubbard, were given 24/7 security due to threats from anti-Israel demonstrators. Makled represented anti-Israel students who were arrested and charged last year with trespassing and resisting arrest when police broke up an encampment on Michigan’s campus.

The nomination of Makled over Acker reflects a major shift in the Democratic Party throughout the country, which has seen multiple leftist Muslims elected to public office. That shift is on full display in Michigan this year as another leftist Muslim, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, is in a tight race for the Democratic nomination to the open seat for U.S. Senate. El-Sayed told CNN over the weekend that Hamas is just as evil as the Israeli government.

The Michigan Democratic Party did not release the vote tally for Sunday’s nominating convention. For many statewide offices in Michigan, the Democratic Party chooses its nominees through delegates who meet to cast their votes at a nominating convention. Acker’s ticket-mate, Paul Brown, who has also called for punishment for anti-Israel demonstrators, was renominated to run alongside Makled in the general election.

Makled rode a wave of support from leftist University of Michigan students and campus labor unions to his nomination victory.

“This is beyond the support that I was expecting,” Makled said after he was nominated. “This is the largest convention I’ve participated in in 20 years, and I’ve been coming to them since 2006. This really shows how much the Democratic Party has expanded the electorate and energized the base of what people want to see come November.”

Makled will face Republicans Lena Epstein and Michael Schostak in the general election on November 3.

Not all Democrats were enthused by Makled’s candidacy. Brandon Dillon, a former chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, blasted Makled and wrote in a Detroit News opinion piece that Makled’s social media posts “reflect a pattern of extremism and bigotry, all of which should be disqualifying for someone seeking one of the most powerful positions in Michigan higher education and statewide office.”

Acker faced opposition from Makled and many within the Michigan Democratic Party for his desire to hold anti-Israel radicals accountable after they intimidated Jewish students and obstructed law enforcement officers. Acker also faced scrutiny just a few days before the Democratic nominating convention when The Guardian published a report on alleged messages sent by Acker on Slack that appeared to be sexual in nature and included obscene comments about a female Michigan student.

Acker said that parts of the messages sent to The Guardian appeared to be “doctored,” adding that Acker “has never been on Slack.” Acker told The Detroit News that the allegations published in The Guardian are “ridiculous” and “fake.”