Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, when pressed on his relationship with far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, stated on Sunday that the election was not about "a Twitch streamer in California." Appearing on CBS News' "Face the Nation," El-Sayed rejected questions from host Weijia Jiang concerning concerns raised by Jewish Michiganders about his campaign appearances with Piker.
Jiang asked El-Sayed directly about the concerns and why he had not more explicitly denounced Piker's rhetoric, despite having condemned antisemitism. El-Sayed responded by emphasizing that voters in Michigan were focused on different issues. "This is the third time you’ve asked about a Twitch streamer in California. I’ve done four events in Michigan this week. You know what didn’t come up? Twitch streamers in California," El-Sayed said. He asserted that voters were more interested in discussing "grocery prices, healthcare and the environment."
El-Sayed is not the first Democrat to distance himself from Piker amid scrutiny. Earlier in August, Representative Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., urged reporters to cease asking about Piker, suggesting that Republicans were attempting to make him a central issue in the race. Dingell also commented that she did not agree with Piker on many points, including some of his remarks concerning women.
Piker has publicly supported El-Sayed, urging Democrats to oppose those who disagree with the Michigan candidate. However, Piker has also drawn criticism for his past remarks, including a statement in August regarding Jewish Americans' support for Israel. Piker stated, "People don't f--- with Israel any longer. And if Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they're singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone will come around and take action not against Israel, mind you, but against American Jews."
This remark led to condemnation from several Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Cory Booker, D-N.J., Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., as well as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Representatives Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., Brad Schneider, D-Ill., and Greg Stanton, D-Ariz. Representative Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., also criticized Piker, calling him "a hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe because he lacks substance."
In response to Piker's comments, El-Sayed previously stated on social media that while he denounced antisemitism and rhetoric that endangers the Jewish community, he did not explicitly condemn Piker himself. El-Sayed wrote, "My commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own daughters. Antisemitism is a scourge, and we need to address it in all its forms. And I stand against any rhetoric that puts the community at risk."
El-Sayed had previously appeared with Piker on the campaign trail but stated in August that he had no further plans to campaign with the streamer. This decision followed Piker's controversial remarks about Jewish Americans and his anti-Israel stance.