Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for Senate in Michigan, is stepping up his efforts to appeal to Democrats after their party picked progressive Abdul El-Sayed.

In an effort to sway moderates on the fence about El-Sayed and his policies, Rogers has shifted his focus to enticing Democrats.

"To Democrat voters who feel their nominee doesn't represent them and their values, all hope is not lost. I'm not asking you to be a Republican. I'm asking you for the opportunity to earn your trust...our door is open," said Rogers in an interview with Fox News Digital.

In early August, El-Sayed, a former public health official, defeated Rep. Haley Stevens by one percentage point after a contentious primary that left hard feelings among supporters of both candidates.

That fracturing was quickly utilized by Rogers’ campaign, offering an alternative for those who felt slighted by El-Sayed, by unveiling his Democrats for Mike Rogers" coalition during a campaign event.

After her loss, Stevens announced her endorsement of El-Sayed, attempting to mend bridges while focusing their efforts on Rogers.

Both El-Sayed and Stevens have vocalized the importance of maintaining Michigan’s Senate Seat.

However, according to local reporting, El-Sayed needs to make up ground with Black and Jewish voters, who supported Stevens heading into the primary.

El-Sayed made strongly progressive platforms a part of his campaign, and has been highly critical of the United States’ relationship with Israel — particularly the nation’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

His rhetoric has had a direct impact on Jewish voters, with lifelong Democrats now vocalizing their support for Rogers. An example: Rabbi Asher Lopatin, leader of the Kehillat Etz Chayim congregation in Huntington Woods.

Lopatin has become a strong critic of El-Sayed and has announced his support for Rogers.

“Sadly, tragically, he’s shown contempt for the Jewish community and, frankly, for American values by making Hasan Piker, a vicious anti-Semite and racist, his campaign surrogate and someone he buddies up with before the primary and after the primary,” Lopatin said.

Lopatin has expressed disappointment within the Democratic Party for not disavowing El-Sayed’s beliefs, saying the nominee has shown real contempt for the Jewish community.

“And not only the Jewish community. That insensitivity, the fact that they have not spoken out against that, is very disappointing,” said Lopatin.

Local news outlet Michigan Advance did clarify that El-Sayed’s comments regarding Israel are specifically aimed at the Israeli government’s actions under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than Jewish people generally.

“I understand that Netanyahu is a big reason why they’ve gotten so aggressive, and frankly, so bloodthirsty under his reign. But I also understand that it’s impossible for us to say that we want a two-state solution while we’ve been aiding, arming, and abetting the very people who’ve been trying to foreclose on the possibility of a Palestinian state,” said El-Sayed.

Rogers, in support of Jewish Democrats, condemned El-Sayed’s stance, saying during a campaign stop, "the violent rhetoric is going to make a difference."

In response to his harsh views on Israel, El-Sayed vocalized that maintaining safety for everyone is a top priority, saying, "My commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own kids. We have a responsibility to take on antisemitism in all of its forms, wherever we see it."

A poll conducted by the AARP says El–Sayed is favored over Rogers by one percentage point among voters ages 18 to 50; however, voters ages 50+ prefer Rogers 52% over El-Sayed 43%.

The poll indicates that the Senate race will be closer than anticipated, as both candidates will need to draw on whatever advantages they have to advance.

Rogers has President Donald Trump endorsing his campaign, while El-Sayed has top progressive names like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backing him throughout his campaign stops.

Both candidates have recognized the importance of scooping up Democratic voters in Michigan, as Rogers continues his incentive to appeal to moderates, while El-Sayed attempts to mend the relationship between progressives and moderates.