SAY IT AIN’T SO

A prominent Democratic fundraiser, with significant ties to several local candidates running for state office in 2026, has been revealed to have had a grandfather who served in the Nazi regime’s Army in World War II. According to numerous publications, Kelly Neumann, a trial attorney from Traverse City and principal of Neumann Law Group who is serving as co-chair of the finance committees of Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson, posted on Facebook and Instagram on November 11, 2024 – Veteran’s Day – honoring veterans, notably her grandfather, who was featured in the since-deleted posts, in several photos in full Nazi regalia, according to Jewish Insider, Fox News and MSN – including one in what appears to be an officer’s uniform. “Interesting story, I do not talk much about but my Grandfather, Albert Neumann, was on the German side in WWI & WWII.” She further wrote that he was one of her best friends. MSN noted that David Wolpe, a prominent American rabbi, shared the outlet’s article on her post to X and captioned it: “This is so outrageous I had to double check it wasn’t a hoax.” Following the reveal of Neumann’s family history in late January, she co-hosted a fundraiser for McMorrow, one of several she has co-hosted, and she has co-hosted several for Benson – along with just about every Democrat who has run for office, past and present, from Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Gary Peters to those currently running. Of course, Dem candidates likely never knew her history, and as one operative said, “She’s a very wealthy woman who posted an insane piece.” She hosted a fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate Congresswoman Haley Stevens in March of 2025 which raised $50,000, right before she launched, and a December 2025 event for Jeremy Moss, who is running for Congress to replace Stevens.. Arik Wolk, a Stevens’ campaign spokesperson, rushed to distance the congresswoman from the fundraiser, telling Jewish Insider, “Haley rejects antisemitism in all forms, and has spent her career standing up to and calling out hate. Had Haley seen the post celebrating Ms. Neumann’s grandfather’s service to the SS, Ms. Neumann would not have hosted that event.” McMorrow’s campaign declined to comment on the record, noting Neumann is attached to most Michigan Democrats, past and present.

Kelly Neumann