Left-wing commentator Hasan Piker's remark regarding American Jews' support of Israel has led to a public disagreement among Democrats in Michigan. During an August 20 livestream, Piker stated, "If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone’s going to come around and take action, not against the state of Israel – mind you – but against American Jews."
Piker's comments followed an audio recording that allegedly captured Democratic Michigan state Senator Jeremy Moss saying, "The entire purpose of my career is to make sure America continues to support Israel." Moss has denied making this statement and claims the audio is fabricated. He is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District.
In response to Piker's remarks, Rep. Hillary Scholten condemned them as a threat against Moss and American Jews. She stated, "Hasan Piker’s calls for violence against American Jews, and directly naming a Michigan elected official (and future Congressional colleague) Jeremy Moss, are unacceptable. Full stop." Scholten also criticized Piker's influence on American politics, calling his rhetoric dangerous.
Piker responded to Scholten on social media, accusing her of defaming him to gain attention. Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers criticized Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed for his association with Piker, urging him to disavow the commentator. El-Sayed, who has campaigned alongside Piker, stated that he is not fully aligned with him but has not disavowed him. He later released a statement condemning antisemitism and emphasizing the need to focus on issues like healthcare and education in the Senate race.
The Michigan Senate race is viewed as competitive, with Democrats needing to win in the state to maintain control of the Senate.