Hasan Piker unloads on ‘Islamophobic pieces of s—‘ Democrats as El-Sayed faces party unity test
Left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker rejected calls for Abdul El-Sayed to repair relationships with skeptical Democrats during the candidate’s Tuesday night election event at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit, even as El-Sayed promised reconciliation ahead of the general election against Republican Mike Rogers.
"Like everyone being like, Abdul has a f--- ton of work to do mending bridges. Here's the f---ing take nuke for you, OK? You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of s---, OK?" Piker said.
El-Sayed struck a conciliatory tone before the race was called, telling supporters his campaign would begin reconciling with Democrats who backed Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., in the bitter primary.
In his victory speech on Wednesday, he praised Stevens as a dedicated public servant.
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Piker accused El-Sayed’s critics of spending months branding the former Wayne County health director a terrorist, misogynist and fake doctor before demanding that he win them over.
"Like, what are you talking about? Do you want to f---ing win or not? Lock the f--- in, OK? Lock the f--- in," Piker said.
Piker also framed questions about whether El-Sayed could unite Democrats as a test of whether pro-Israel organizations, consultants and voters would stop attacking the nominee long enough to defeat Rogers.
"And that question is just can El-Sayed get the pro-Israel vote? Can El-Sayed win over, not even the vote necessarily, but like can El-Sayed get the people and the group," Piker said.
"Groups and the NGOs and the consultants that have worked extensively for pro-Israel candidates to shut the f--- up about El-Sayed being a terrorist for a long enough timeline so that you know we can consolidate the base and defeat the f---ing Republican."
Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts highlighted Piker’s message to Democrats who supported Stevens or another primary candidate.
"Hasan Piker’s message to Dems who didn’t vote for El-Sayed: ‘You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of s---,’" Watts said on X.
Rob Flaherty, ex-White House digital strategy director for former President Joe Biden, urged El-Sayed to disregard Piker as the nominee pivoted toward the general election.
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"I am not a Hasan-doomer, and I think he has an important place in the ecosystem, but I hope he and the pool party crowd head back to LA and let Abdul ignore this very bad advice," Flaherty said.
Conservative commentator Guy Benson characterized Piker as a leading surrogate addressing Democratic voters.
"Dems’ top surrogate to many Dem voters: ‘You are all unbelievably Islamophobic pieces of s---,’" Benson said.
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El-Sayed repeatedly campaigned with Piker, including at college campus rallies and a Detroit pool party Monday for content creators supporting his campaign. Stevens urged El-Sayed to distance himself from the streamer, whose previous remarks about the Sept. 11 attacks, Hamas and Mao Zedong have drawn criticism.
The Associated Press declared El-Sayed the winner Wednesday after he narrowly defeated Stevens in a contest that attracted more than $80 million in spending. He will face Rogers for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
