Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed sought to distance himself Monday from Hasan Piker after the left-wing streamer and activist suggested to his Twitch viewers last week that American Jews’ support of Israel will make antisemitism worse and invite violence.
El-Sayed, who is facing Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in a critical race in the battle for the Senate majority this November, has appeared with Piker several times on the campaign trail, telling reporters he wanted to court the streamer’s massive young audience even though he disagreed with some of Piker’s views. The two walked into an event in Detroit together on the eve of El-Sayed’s narrow primary win over Rep. Haley Stevens and were photographed the same day together at a pool party with progressive influencers and House candidates.
But after months of campaigning alongside Piker, El-Sayed said in a Monday statement specifically addressing Piker’s comments that “nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople.”
“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,” El-Sayed said.
