Left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker ignited controversy on election night for Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate primary, accusing Democratic critics of the nominee of Islamophobia and demanding party unity ahead of the general election.
During El-Sayed's election event in Detroit on Tuesday night, Piker rejected calls for the candidate to repair relationships with skeptical Democrats. "Like everyone being like, Abdul has a f–k ton of work to do mending bridges. Here's the f---ing take nuke for you, OK? You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of s–t, OK?" Piker stated.
El-Sayed, who narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., in the primary, struck a more conciliatory tone in his victory speech. He praised Stevens as a dedicated public servant and pledged that his campaign would begin reconciling with Democrats who supported his primary opponents. The Associated Press declared El-Sayed the winner Wednesday after a contest that attracted more than $80 million in spending. He will now face Republican Mike Rogers for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
Piker accused El-Sayed’s critics of having spent months branding the former Wayne County health director as a terrorist, misogynist, and fake doctor. "Like, what are you talking about? Do you want to f---ing win or not? Lock the f--- in, OK? Lock the f--- in," Piker urged.
Piker also framed questions about El-Sayed's ability to unite Democrats as a test of whether pro-Israel organizations, consultants, and voters would cease their attacks on the nominee to defeat Rogers. "Groups and the NGOs and the consultants that have worked extensively for pro-Israel candidates to shut the f--- up about El-Sayed being a terrorist for a long enough timeline so that you can consolidate the base and defeat the f---ing Republican," Piker said.
Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts highlighted Piker’s message to Democrats who had not supported El-Sayed, posting on X, "Hasan Piker’s message to Dems who didn’t vote for El-Sayed: ‘You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of s---.’"
Former White House digital strategy director Rob Flaherty advised El-Sayed to disregard Piker’s remarks. "I am not a Hasan-doomer and I think he has an important place in the ecosystem but I hope he and the pool party crowd head back to LA and let Abdul ignore this very bad advice," Flaherty stated.
Conservative commentator Guy Benson characterized Piker as a leading surrogate addressing Democratic voters, remarking, "Dems’ top surrogate to many Dem voters: ‘You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of s---.’"
El-Sayed had repeatedly campaigned with Piker prior to the primary, including at college campus rallies and a Detroit pool party on Monday. Stevens had previously urged El-Sayed to distance himself from the streamer, whose past remarks regarding the Sept. 11 attacks, Hamas, and Mao Zedong had drawn criticism.