Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed campaigned with far-left streamer Hasan Piker at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan on Tuesday, declining to disavow Piker's past controversial comments. El-Sayed called demands for denunciation a 'gotcha game' and defended engaging left-wing figures to broaden outreach. The appearances drew criticism from fellow Democrats and Republicans alike.
East Lansing, Michigan — Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, appeared alongside Hasan Piker at a campaign event attended by about 400 people at Michigan State University. The pair also visited the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Tuesday. During an interview with POLITICO, El-Sayed rejected calls to denounce Piker's previous statements on Israel, U.S. foreign policy, and other topics, saying, “This whole gotcha game, platform policing, cancel culture — I thought we were over it.” He added, “I’m not here to disavow people’s views.” El-Sayed argued that embracing figures like Piker is essential for Democrats to reach broader audiences, especially amid the 2026 midterm elections approach and efforts to connect with young voters after struggles in 2024. Piker, who has over four million followers on YouTube and Twitch, has hosted progressive Democrats including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and endorsed Sen. Jon Ossoff. In 2019, he stated on a livestream that “America deserved 9/11,” for which he later apologized. Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, Piker condemned Israel's response in Gaza, remarks some have labeled antisemitic. He has also praised Hezbollah as a successful resistance group and made other provocative statements, such as urging violence against landlords and Sen. Rick Scott. El-Sayed's opponents in the Democratic primary, Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, have criticized Piker for antisemitic rhetoric. Sen. John Fetterman expressed shock at Democrats associating with him, stating, “I mean, my God, you have many in my party, they’re proud to do events with Hasan Piker. This is the individual that said that America deserved 9/11.” Republicans circulated video of El-Sayed's comments online. Piker dismissed attacks as smears to avoid debating Israel's influence on U.S. policy.
