{"id":2654163,"date":"2026-09-03T14:26:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T18:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/el-sayed-wants-to-give-pikers-audience-a-pathway-into-his-campaign\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T14:29:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T18:29:02","slug":"el-sayed-wants-to-give-pikers-audience-a-pathway-into-his-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/el-sayed-wants-to-give-pikers-audience-a-pathway-into-his-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"El Sayed wants to give Piker\u2019s audience a \u2018pathway\u2019 into his campaign"},"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\">24<\/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-wants-to-give-pikers-audience-a-pathway-into-his-campaign%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=2654163&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>Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed expressed his intention to engage Hasan Piker\u2019s large Twitch following-around 3 million viewers-by offering them a pathway into his campaign, despite ongoing criticism of Piker\u2019s past comments. El Sayed seeks to include aspects he agrees with while distancing himself from Piker\u2019s controversial statements. Piker, a socialist streamer known for his influential online presence, has a history of making inflammatory comments, including suggesting that the U.S. &#8220;deserved&#8221; the September 11 attacks and expressing support for Hamas over Israel, which has led to calls within the Democratic Party for him to be disavowed. while some Democratic senators have condemned Piker, el Sayed has declined to do so, emphasizing his refusal to disown individuals over disagreements. The campaign is also working to appeal to Jewish voters amid concerns over Piker\u2019s past remarks, with el Sayed hiring a Jewish community liaison and issuing apologies for previous comments perceived as sympathetic to terrorists. the controversy occurs as el Sayed\u2019s race becomes increasingly competitive and in the context of broader political efforts to reach younger and online audiences.  <\/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\">Michigan Democratic Senate nominee<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abdul-el-sayed\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23138\"> Abdul el Sayed<\/a> said he wants to offer Twitch streamer<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hasan-piker\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"22479\"> Hasan Piker\u2019s<\/a> millions of followers a \u201cpathway\u201d into his campaign, despite Piker\u2019s comments <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4702481\/ossoff-condemn-hasan-piker\/\">drawing criticism<\/a> from Republicans and Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI want to offer them a pathway into an electoral movement,\u201d el Sayed told Stephen A. Smith on SiriusXM\u2019s \u201cStraight Shooter with Stephen A.\u201d The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"655\">Michigan<\/a> candidate added he wants Piker\u2019s audience to hear where he agrees with the streamer while also providing \u201ca pathway that disavows the things that I disagree with.\u201d<\/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\/campaigns\/congressional\/4712197\/abdul-el-sayed-stephen-a-smith-hasan-piker-followers\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>El Sayed tells Stephen A. Smith that he\u2019s \u2018thinking about the 3 million people who listen\u2019 to Hasan Piker<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4711952\/dan-sullivan-launches-website-mary-peltola-lies\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Dan Sullivan launches website aimed at highlighting Mary Peltola\u2019s \u2018lies\u2019 about his character<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4711757\/john-thune-worried-republicans-losing-senate-majority-2026-elections\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Thune says Republicans at risk of losing Senate majority: \u2018I worry about that\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Piker, a socialist Twitch streamer with roughly 3 million followers, has emerged as an influential figure in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11675\">2026 midterm elections <\/a>after campaigning alongside el Sayed during the Michigan Democratic primary.<\/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\">But Piker\u2019s history of controversial and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/antisemitism\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"376\">antisemitic<\/a> comments has prompted calls from some Democrats for the party to distance itself from him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Piker has suggested that American Jews\u2019 support for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"219\">Israel<\/a> could prompt people to \u201ctake action\u201d against Jews in the United States. He has also said he \u201cwould vote for Hamas over Israel every single time\u201d and called Hamas \u201ca thousand times better\u201d than the Jewish state.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The controversy surrounding el Sayed\u2019s relationship with Piker comes as Republican Senate nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-rogers\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1022\">Mike Rogers<\/a> attempts to appeal to the Jewish voter base, in what is shaping up to be one of the closest races of the 2026 election cycle.<\/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\">Piker also drew widespread scrutiny in 2019 after saying the U.S. \u201cdeserved\u201d the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/september-11-terrorist-attacks\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"586\">Sept. 11 terrorist attacks<\/a> on the World Trade Center. But he later walked back the remark, saying it had been taken out of context.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several Democratic senators, including Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Jon Ossoff (D-GA), called on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"288\">Democratic Party<\/a> to distance itself from Piker, with some explicitly disavowing him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Sayed, however, has declined to do so.<\/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\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4708647\/eight-democrats-condemn-socialism-dsa-vote\/\">EIGHT HOUSE DEMOCRATS VOTE TO CONDEMN AND DENOUNCE SOCIALISM AND THE DSA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pressed by Smith on whether there was anything Piker could say that would cause him to disavow the streamer publicly, el Sayed responded, \u201cI mean, sure,\u201d but argued against \u201ccategorically\u201d disavowing individuals over comments with which he disagrees. He also pointed to Piker\u2019s subsequent backpedaling of his 9\/11 comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Sayed\u2019s campaign is currently trying to appeal to Jewish voters in Michigan, as he is in the process of hiring a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4706586\/abdul-el-sayed-hire-jewish-community-liaison-senate-michigan\/\">Jewish community liaison<\/a>. He also recently apologized to Jewish Democrats during remarks at the state party\u2019s nominating convention and at a separate religious event for past comments that critics said appeared to sympathize with the perpetrator of a March terrorist attack on a synagogue. El Sayed had previously said that \u201cviolence is a cycle\u201d and that \u201churt people hurt people.\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<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>El Sayed aims to engage Piker\u2019s followers despite controversy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2654164,"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\/09\/AP26220011381098.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4087,81734,16874,77253,5894],"class_list":["post-2654163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-campaign","tag-el-sayed","tag-pathway","tag-piker","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26220011381098.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654163","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\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2654163"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2654166,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654163\/revisions\/2654166"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2654164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2654163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2654163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2654163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}