{"id":2652483,"date":"2026-08-31T17:00:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T21:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/el-sayed-tries-to-reset-senate-campaign-amid-piker-fallout\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T17:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T21:08:15","slug":"el-sayed-tries-to-reset-senate-campaign-amid-piker-fallout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/el-sayed-tries-to-reset-senate-campaign-amid-piker-fallout\/","title":{"rendered":"El Sayed tries to reset Senate campaign amid Piker fallout"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fel-sayed-tries-to-reset-senate-campaign-amid-piker-fallout%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2652483&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Abdul el Sayed, a Michigan Democratic Senate candidate, is attempting to recover from recent scrutiny related to his association with controversial Twitch streamer hasan Piker, who has a history of antisemitic comments.Despite efforts to distance himself by hiring a Jewish community liaison and apologizing for past remarks about a synagogue attack, el Sayed faces ongoing criticism for not fully severing ties with Piker, who has campaigned with him and previously made inflammatory statements. His stance has caused concern among Jewish voters and Democratic allies, with some accusing him of aligning with socialist-leaning policies and controversial figures.Meanwhile, Republican opponents and figures have intensified their attack, framing el Sayed as dangerous for supporting what they describe as radical ideas and associating him with antisemitism. Piker, in turn, defends el Sayed and criticizes his attempts at moderation, highlighting teh political divide over his candidacy and the issues surrounding his connections and statements.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrat <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abdul-el-sayed\/\">Abdul el Sayed<\/a>, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"655\">Michigan<\/a> Senate nominee, is seeking to hit reset after a brutal August in which he couldn\u2019t move past his association with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hasan-piker\/\">Hasan Piker<\/a>. But short of fully denouncing the controversial Twitch streamer with a history of antisemitism, el Sayed can\u2019t shake the spotlight that remains on their political friendship.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Sayed is making new overtures to Jewish Democrats, some of whom have publicly embraced Republican rival <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-rogers\/\">Mike Rogers<\/a>, threatening his chances to defend a Democratic-held battleground seat that could determine whether Republicans hold on to the upper chamber.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4706652\/jd-vance-abdul-el-sayed-wife\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>JD Vance tells Abdul el Sayed to \u2018keep my wife\u2019s name the hell out of your mouth\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4706683\/abdul-el-sayed-campaign-reset-hasan-piker-fallout\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Abdul el Sayed seeks campaign reset amid Hasan Piker fallout<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4706658\/brad-lander-heckler-zionist-israel-protest\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Brad Lander shrugs off \u2018loud numbskulls\u2019 who\u00a0berated him over supporting Israel<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Sayed is in the process of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4706586\/abdul-el-sayed-hire-jewish-community-liaison-senate-michigan\/\">hiring a Jewish community liaison<\/a> and is interviewing candidates, his campaign confirmed to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. And over the weekend, while speaking to Michigan Democrats at the party\u2019s nominating convention and a separate religious event, he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4705896\/abdul-el-sayed-jewish-community-outreach-temple-israel-apology\/\">apologized to Jewish Democrats<\/a> for past comments criticized as sympathizing with the perpetrator of a March terrorist attack on a synagogue by saying that \u201cviolence is a cycle\u201d and \u201churt people hurt people.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m asking for forgiveness and a moment of grace. I made a mistake,\u201d el Sayed told the Michigan Jewish Democratic Caucus, referring to his remarks about the attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But without severing ties to Piker, who has campaigned with el Sayed and once said \u201cAmerica deserved 9\/11\u201d before later recanting the statement, el Sayed continues to be dogged by his anti-Israel rhetoric and bleeding support among the more than 100,000 Jewish Michigan voters who could make or break his election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At a Monday press conference with former primary opponent Mallory McMorrow, el Sayed steered clear of Israel and Piker. But in the days prior, he\u2019s faced repeated questions from the media about why he refuses to further distance himself from someone he says is nothing more than \u201ca streamer in California.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t ever want my comments to hurt anybody\u2019s feelings. It\u2019s important to me that people understand that I take serious the pain of all communities in this state,\u201d el Sayed said. \u201cBut I\u2019m no longer going to have a conversation about a Twitch streamer in California. It\u2019s just not a serious conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At nearly the same moment as el Sayed\u2019s presser on Monday, a split screen unfolded as Republicans from Michigan to Nevada railed on the Democratic nominee and his positions that more closely align with the socialist wave that\u2019s captured Democratic primaries this cycle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe can\u2019t condemn his running mate, Hasan Piker, because they\u2019re in total lockstep,\u201d Rogers said at a rally with Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"7658\">JD Vance<\/a> in Sterling Heights, Michigan.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vance referred to el Sayed as a \u201cgold mine of content\u201d who is \u201cfighting for the most terrible ideas and terrible policies and the craziest ideas out there.\u201d The vice president invoked Piker and el Sayed\u2019s Temple Israel remarks, describing Rogers\u2019s Democratic opponent as \u201cvery, very evil.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s people who see themselves not as citizens of a combination fighting for every single person, whether they\u2019re Jewish or Christian, whether they\u2019re white or black or brown, but see themselves as fighting for one group at the expense of others,\u201d Vance said. \u201cAnd that is how, ladies and gentlemen, you destroy the United States of America.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Hasan Piker, left, listens as Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, speaks in a green room before a campaign rally, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/AP26098040732312-1.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hasan Piker, left, listens as Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, speaks in a green room before a campaign rally, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, at the Republican Jewish Coalition Summit in Las Vegas, Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters took aim at el Sayed\u2019s synagogue comments and called a potential Democratic Senate majority \u201cnot just a political setback for our party and our movement; it is a direct threat to the Jewish community.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Sayed, himself a longtime<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\"> Israel<\/a> critic, has distanced himself from Piker after the latter suggested American Jews\u2019 support for Israel might prompt people to \u201ctake action\u201d against Jews in the United States, but stopped short of fully denouncing him. Piker has downplayed el Sayed\u2019s attempt to put distance between them and questioned his olive branches as an effort to moderate his criticism of Israel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4705896\/abdul-el-sayed-jewish-community-outreach-temple-israel-apology\/\">EL SAYED TRIES TO BUILD BRIDGE WITH JEWISH COMMUNITY WITH TEMPLE ISRAEL APOLOGY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, Rogers has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4691366\/mike-rogers-jewish-democrats-support-against-abdul-el-sayed-michigan-senate\/\">begun to flip Democrats<\/a>, particularly those who are Jewish, in his favor. And prominent national Democrats from states across the country have forcefully condemned Piker in ways that have drawn sharp contrast to el Sayed\u2019s more tepid approach.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am literally the person that is being dangled, and I\u2019m going to tell you, once again, he\u2019s not moderating on his perspective on Israel or anything like that,\u201d Piker said of el Sayed in a recent livestream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>El Sayed seeks to reset after Piker controversy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2652484,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26098040732312-1.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[81734,32504,52240],"class_list":["post-2652483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-el-sayed","tag-political-strategy","tag-senate-campaign"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26098040732312-1.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2652483"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2652491,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652483\/revisions\/2652491"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2652484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2652483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2652483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2652483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}