Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed says he has “no plans” to campaign with Hasan Piker

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for a Michigan U.S. Senate seat, said he has “no plans” to campaign with streamer Hasan Piker, following criticism from multiple Democratic lawmakers over Piker’s comments about American Jews who support Israel. El-Sayed made the remarks during an interview with Semafor in the Detroit suburbs, according to The Hill.

The dispute centers on Piker’s public statements and the reaction from Democratic elected officials. Several lawmakers publicly criticized Piker for remarks they said concerned American Jews, particularly in the context of Israel-supporting views within the community, The Hill reported.

El-Sayed denied that Piker would have any role in his campaign for the Michigan Senate race. In the Semafor interview, he said there were no plans for Piker to appear or participate in efforts tied to his candidacy, according to The Hill.

The comments mark a renewed point of tension within Democratic politics over how campaigns handle controversial online figures and whether their presence can be tied to candidates’ messaging and priorities. El-Sayed’s response was framed as a direct rejection of any campaign linkage to Piker, The Hill reported.

The Hill’s report said the exchange comes as El-Sayed navigates a high-profile race in Michigan alongside scrutiny from fellow Democrats. The criticism of Piker was tied to remarks about American Jews and Israel, while El-Sayed’s denial sought to clarify that his campaign would not rely on Piker’s engagement.

As of publication, El-Sayed did not indicate changes to campaign staffing or strategy beyond stating he had no plans to campaign with Piker. The practical implication of his comments is that, at least for now, his public appearances and campaign outreach would not include the streamer amid the ongoing political controversy.

The next step for the campaign will be whether any of Piker’s supporters or allied groups attempt to link him to El-Sayed’s race, and whether other Democrats continue pressing the question of how candidates respond to criticism of figures associated with their broader political ecosystem. For now, El-Sayed’s position is that Piker will not be part of his campaign, The Hill reported.