Michigan Democratic Senate Hopeful Criticized for Campaign Rallies With Hasan Piker
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, is facing sharp backlash from primary rivals and mainstream Democrats over his decision to hold campus rallies Tuesday at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University with far‑left streamer Hasan Piker. Piker, who once said “America deserved 9/11” and has been accused of antisemitism for his harsh criticism of Israel and downplaying of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, is being brought in to energize El‑Sayed’s progressive base alongside Rep. Summer Lee. Rep. Haley Stevens and State Sen. Mallory McMorrow both condemned El‑Sayed’s move as unacceptable and divisive, especially coming less than two weeks after a man rammed his truck into a Michigan synagogue in what officials called a targeted act of domestic terrorism. Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin, the Anti‑Defamation League, and Third Way’s Matt Bennett have also labeled Piker antisemitic, with Bennett calling El‑Sayed a “disgrace to the Democratic Party,” while likely GOP nominee and former Rep. Mike Rogers is using the controversy to paint Democrats as embracing extremists. In a Fox News interview, El‑Sayed defended himself as anti‑war, tried to explain leaked comments about Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei’s death and anger in Dearborn, and argued that high gas prices are a price of avoiding wider war, but the episode is intensifying a broader fight over how far Democrats will go in partnering with incendiary online influencers.
📌 Key Facts
- Abdul El‑Sayed is holding rallies Tuesday at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University with streamer Hasan Piker and Rep. Summer Lee.
- Piker previously said “America deserved 9/11” and has been accused of antisemitism for his commentary on Israel and the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
- Rep. Haley Stevens, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, the Anti‑Defamation League, and Third Way’s Matt Bennett have all condemned El‑Sayed’s decision to campaign with Piker.
- The rallies were announced less than two weeks after a truck attack on a Michigan synagogue that authorities called domestic terrorism.
- Former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers, the likely Republican Senate nominee, is using the controversy to attack Democrats as tolerating antisemitic allies.
📊 Relevant Data
The Jewish population in Michigan is approximately 129,225, representing 1.27% of the state's total population as of 2026 estimates.
Jewish Population by State 2026 — World Population Review
Dearborn, Michigan, became the first Arab-majority city in the US in 2023, with roughly 55% of its 110,000 residents claiming Middle Eastern or North African ancestry, many of whom are Muslim.
A brief history of Dearborn, Michigan – the first Arab-American majority city in the US — The Conversation
There have been more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the US since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, marking a significant increase.
Over 10,000 Antisemitic Incidents Recorded in the U.S. Since Oct. 7, 2023, According to ADL — Anti-Defamation League
Jewish Americans, who comprise about 2.4% of the US population, are overrepresented among top political donors; for example, in the 2020 election cycle, several of the largest individual donors were Jewish.
Meet the top 15 Jewish political donors of the 2020 election cycle — J. The Jewish News of Northern California
The Arab American population in Michigan has grown by 87% since 2000, driven by historical immigration for auto industry jobs starting in the early 20th century and family reunification policies.
Michigan — Arab American Institute
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