Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing growing pressure to disavow controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, but his latest response is being criticized as too little, too late. After Piker made inflammatory remarks about Jewish people and Israel—comments that targeted state Senator Jeremy Moss—El-Sayed finally issued a statement. Yet the statement was notably vague, failing to mention Piker or Moss by name.
Piker, who served as a surrogate for El-Sayed's campaign, sparked outrage by suggesting that Jewish people are inviting violence because of their support for Israel. He compared Israel to ISIS, a claim widely condemned as delusional and antisemitic. The comments were directed at Moss, a Democrat who has withheld his endorsement from El-Sayed over his association with Piker.
El-Sayed's statement read: '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. 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. But I want to be crystal clear, nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople.'
Critics argue that this falls short of a real break from Piker. 'He's trying to have it both ways,' said one Democratic strategist. 'He wants to distance himself just enough to appease Jewish voters, but he won't actually condemn Piker directly.'
The controversy is particularly damaging for El-Sayed, who has narrow lead over Republican Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race. With the election tightening, El-Sayed cannot afford to alienate key constituencies, especially Jewish Democrats in a state with a significant Jewish population.
This is not the first time El-Sayed's rhetoric has raised eyebrows. After a gunman attacked Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, El-Sayed repeatedly said 'hurt people hurt people,' a comment that many interpreted as excusing the attack. That incident, combined with his ties to Piker, has led some Jewish voters to question whether El-Sayed truly stands with them.
Piker's remarks are part of a broader pattern of inflammatory rhetoric. He previously suggested that America deserved the 9/11 attacks, drawing widespread condemnation. His recent comments about Israel have been echoed by far-left figures, and Democrats like Representative Hillary Scholten have spoken out against them.
Meanwhile, some progressives are defending Piker, arguing that the focus on him distracts from real issues. Activist Cameron Kasky wrote on X: 'Hasan Piker is absolutely a "problem" for Democrats. Centrists are attacking our party over him instead of the authoritarianism and corruption unfolding literally right before our eyes. Republicans are laughing about it. We are fabricating an electoral weakness out of thin air.'
But for many Jewish voters, the distinction between Piker and El-Sayed is blurry. 'I don't see a tremendous amount of distance between them,' said one community leader. 'El-Sayed needs to make a clear, unequivocal break, or he'll lose our support.'
As the race heats up, El-Sayed will need to navigate this delicate situation carefully. His campaign has already faced challenges, including Republican attacks on data center policies. Now, he must decide whether to fully repudiate Piker or risk alienating a crucial voting bloc.
