Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Distances Himself From Influencer Hasan Piker Over Antisemitism Remarks

El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, publicly distanced himself from streamer Hasan Piker after Piker made antisemitic remarks while displaying a photo of state Sen. Jeremy Moss, a Jewish Democratic congressional candidate. The comments drew bipartisan condemnation.

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• April 7, 2026 – El-Sayed and Piker appeared together at a rally in Ann Arbor.

Detroit News

• August 4 – The pair attended a pool-party event the night before the Democratic primary, prompting criticism from El-Sayed’s primary rival.

Michigan, Two Weeks On: What Abdul El-Sayed’s Victory Really Tells Us

• Mid-August – Piker’s livestream referenced “Jewish ISIS” and threatened violence.

Times of Israel

• August 13 – A Fox News poll showed 55 % of Michigan voters opposed continued U.S. military aid to Israel, 44 % supported it.

Michigan, Two Weeks On: What Abdul El-Sayed’s Victory Really Tells Us

• August 19 – RealClearPolitics rated the El-Sayed vs. Rogers Senate race a “Toss Up.”

Michigan, Two Weeks On: What Abdul El-Sayed’s Victory Really Tells Us

• “And while politicians and pundits try to make this race about a Twitch streamer, we’re going to be talking about gas, groceries, good schools and healthcare,” — Abdul El-Sayed.

Associated Press

• “I believe all Americans deserve the right to advocate for what they believe without fear of violence. This is particularly true for communities that have been intimidated for their beliefs in the past,” — Abdul El-Sayed.

Associated Press

• State Sen. Jeremy Moss denied a circulating audio clip that suggested his campaign existed solely to support Israel, calling the clip “manipulated and unsourced.”

CNN

Democratic leaders and Jewish officials condemned both Piker’s language and El-Sayed’s association with him. Jeffries, Scholten, and several Jewish advocacy groups called the comments “dangerous” and “antisemitic.” Rabbi Asher Lopatin announced his support for Republican Mike Rogers, saying, “I usually vote Democrat, but I’m going to be voting for Mike Rogers.”

Abdul El-Sayed distances himself from Hasan Piker’s comments on Jewish Americans

• Fox News poll (August 13) – 55 % opposed U.S. aid to Israel, 44 % supported it.

Michigan, Two Weeks On: What Abdul El-Sayed’s Victory Really Tells Us

• El-Sayed’s primary victory (August 5) was narrow: he defeated Rep. Haley Stevens by roughly 1 percentage point (48.5 % to 47.5 %), a margin of 14,893 votes.

Michigan, Two Weeks On: What Abdul El-Sayed’s Victory Really Tells Us

The episode underscores tension within the Democratic Party between progressive anti-Israel voices and Jewish voters concerned about rising antisemitism. El-Sayed’s effort to separate his campaign from Piker aims to preserve support among moderate and Jewish constituencies while maintaining his progressive platform on Medicare for All, ICE reform, and opposition to U.S. military aid to Israel. Republicans are using the controversy to question El-Sayed’s electability in a swing-state Senate race that could affect Senate control.

Abdul El-Sayed distances himself from Hasan Piker’s comments on Jewish Americans

• “I believe all Americans deserve the right to advocate for what they believe without fear of violence. This is particularly true for communities that have been intimidated for their beliefs in the past,” — Abdul El-Sayed

CNN

• “People don’t f*** with Israel any longer,” — Hasan Piker

Jewish Insider

• “I want Abdul to win desperately, but the most predictable thing in the world was that Piker would inevitably become a serious liability in a general election,” — Tré Easton, Democratic strategist

Associated Press