18 | JULY 16 • 2020 

continued on page 20

Cover Story

M

any Michigan Jews are unhappy 
with Rashida Tlaib. But they’
re 
not mobilizing against her in the 
upcoming primary. 
When Tlaib was elected to represent 
Michigan’
s 13th district in the House 
of Representatives in November 2018, 
she made history as the first Palestinian 
American woman to serve in Congress. 
Along with Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, she 
is also one of the first two Muslim woman 
to serve. And since her election a year and a 
half ago, Tlaib has made headlines time and 
time again — often for her vocal criticism of 
Israel. 
Tlaib, whose grandmother still lives in 
the West Bank, publicly supports a one-
state solution and the Boycott, Divest and 
Sanction (BDS) movement. In 2019 she and 
Omar were denied entry into Israel for their 
views, making international headlines. 
All of this has created a fraught relation-
ship between Tlaib and the American Jewish 
community. Even before Tlaib was elected, 
she made waves when J Street, a nonprofit 
group that advocates for a two-state solution 
in Israel, pulled its endorsement of her. [See 

previous story.] 
But Tlaib’
s connections to the local Jewish 
community stretch back further. She first 
ran for state office at the urging 
of her friend and mentor, former 
State Rep. Steve Tobocman, a 
Jewish Democratic politician 
originally from Farmington 
Hills. The two met while 
Tlaib was working at the Arab 
American Community Center 
for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS); 
he eventually hired her as a legislative assis-
tant. 
Tobocman told the JN he saw a passionate 
local advocate in Tlaib, and when he reached 
his term limit in the state legislature in 2008, 
he asked her to consider running to replace 
him. He helped on her campaign, which she 
won, and when she threw her hat in the ring 
for the House of Representatives in 2018, 
Tobocman helped on that campaign, too. 
In the new PBS documentary And She 
Could Be Next, which highlighted Tlaib’
s 
campaign, Tobocman is seen whispering the 
news that she has won the primary. 
Now, Tlaib is up for re-election — and 

she’
s facing a primary challenger in Detroit 
City Councilwoman Brenda Jones. 
Tobocman isn’
t helping on the campaign, 
although both say the two still have a good 
relationship. “The clear thing is she doesn’
t 
need me,
” he said. “The odds are so much 
better on her side than they were two years 
ago.
” 

TLAIB VS. JONES 
This isn’
t the first time Jones and Tlaib have 
run against each other. When longtime 
Rep. John Conyers Jr. stepped down from 
his position in 2017 after holding office for 
more than 50 years, both Jones 
and Tlaib ran in a special election 
for his seat. Jones won the special 
election and served in Congress 
for eight weeks, but Tlaib won the 
regular election (by fewer than 
1,000 votes) and represented the 
district for a full term. 
In their last two matchups, Tlaib and 
Jones were two of many candidates, includ-
ing famous names like Ian Conyers (nephew 
to John) and Coleman Young II. This time, 
they are the only two on the ballot. 

Steve 
Tobocman

Brenda 
Jones

The Aug. 4 primary offers a path to 
oust the outspoken, pro-BDS 
congresswoman, but Jews are 
staying out — or backing her. 

MAYA GOLDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Tlaib 
 
 Tlaib?

Or Not 

