Democratic lawmakers in Michigan and Minnesota are not lining up to back their states' most visible progressive champions, Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.).
Videos released by conservative political trackers show that several Democrats continue to struggle with whether to openly support Tlaib and Omar, who both have a history of anti-Semitic remarks. Michigan representatives Elissa Slotkin (D.) and Haley Stevens (D.) refused to answer questions on whether they would endorse Tlaib, while Rep. Collin Peterson (D., Minn.) did the same on supporting Omar.
Slotkin previously supported a House resolution condemning anti-Semitism but stopped short of criticizing Tlaib or Omar. She refused to answer whether she supports Tlaib's reelection bid.
In May, a tracker from the Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, asked Slotkin whether the House should censure Tlaib and Omar. Slotkin did not answer.
Another day, another freshman Democrat refusing to stand up to anti-Semitic hate. Here's @RepSlotkin refusing to say whether Ilhan Omar or Rashida Tlaib should face any consequences for their hateful remarks. https://t.co/HivTLTEm1Y #MI08 pic.twitter.com/GPHo0rsWGC
— Congressional Leadership Fund (@CLFSuperPAC) May 20, 2019
Slotkin, who is Jewish, has tried to turn Democrats' anti-Semitism controversies around on Republicans. She said in July that Republican outrage over anti-Semitism was a play to attract Jewish donors.
Stevens, who has received campaign money from Omar, was silent when asked about Tlaib.
Stevens has also avoided questions about Israel from reporters.
.@HaleyLive's fellow Michigander @RashidaTlaib has spent the entire week (and several years) lying about Israel. Does Haley have anything she wants to say? Nope. #MI11 #MI13 pic.twitter.com/Tt9cIbDnpA
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) August 20, 2019
Tlaib touts a long list of endorsements on her campaign website, but most of them come from left-wing advocacy groups and unions. Her list of elected officials' endorsements includes only two members of Congress from Michigan: Reps. Debbie Dingell and Brenda Lawrence.
Rep. Peterson of Minnesota said he had not thought about whether he would support Omar's reelection bid.
.@collinpeterson has defended @IlhanMN in the past, so the odds that he hasn't given any thought to endorsing her seem...nonexistent #MN05 #MN07 https://t.co/oPSieyUNIY pic.twitter.com/EHHJKVVyps
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) September 23, 2019
Some Democrats outside the pair's midwestern states have also been hesitant to support the controversial freshman congresswomen. Rep. Gil Cisneros (Calif.) refused to answer whether he would support censuring Tlaib and Omar back in May.
Here's @GilCisnerosCA running away from a question on whether @IlhanMN and @RashidaTlaib should be reprimanded for their constant anti-Semitic outbursts!
Profile in courage, people! https://t.co/GeZGGoajEM #CA39 pic.twitter.com/ocaNltqHpr
— Congressional Leadership Fund (@CLFSuperPAC) May 16, 2019
In February, Omar's anti-Semitic comments dogged Democrats after she said Jewish interest groups were buying off Congress, a common anti-Semitic trope. In May, Tlaib sparked outrage after she told a podcast host about the "calming feeling" she experiences when she thinks about the Holocaust.
Tlaib and Omar have also supported the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, which led to them being barred from entering Israel in August, according to Israeli statute. Tlaib was given permission on humanitarian grounds to visit her grandmother, but she refused. The pair then proceeded to fundraise off being denied admission.