Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., accused a group of Democratic leaders and donors on Monday of being willing to see Michigan Democratic US Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed lose. In comments to "Politico Playbook," Sanders stated that progressives pose a threat to wealthy interests and the party's approach to Israel as El-Sayed faces scrutiny over his ties to streamer Hasan Piker. Sanders indicated that this resistance comes from individuals at the top of the Democratic Party and its financial base, saying, "You’re talking about a small number of people who are at the head of the Democratic Party. You’re talking about the donor class… Are they less than enthusiastic about Abdul? Yes, they are."
Democratic strategist Yemisi Egbewole responded to Sanders' framing in comments to Fox News Digital, emphasizing the party's need to secure a Senate majority and El-Sayed's responsibility to unify Democrats after narrowly defeating Rep. Haley Stevens in the primary. Egbewole stated, "Dems want a majority in the Senate. El-Sayed apologized for his comments about the Temple Israel attack and hasn’t campaigned with Hasan. No one is as caught up in this oligarchy business as Sanders is. Stevens lost. She endorsed Abdul. It’s now his job to win those voters."
RNC national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre criticized Sanders' defense of El-Sayed, asserting that El-Sayed's record and associations render him unfit for the Senate. Baldassarre stated, "Abdul El-Sayed is a terrorist bootlicker who downplayed 9/11, pals around with a radical streamer who thinks our country deserved it, and whose mother worked for an organization that funneled money to Osama bin Laden to orchestrate it. His presence in the Senate would absolutely pose a national security threat, and it’s no surprise that Democrats are losing their minds at Bernie for propping up another unelectable extremist."
Sanders, who supported El-Sayed during the primary, noted that some Democrats view candidates like El-Sayed as challenges to wealthy political interests and US policy toward Israel. He stated that these Democrats see El-Sayed and similar progressives as "a threat to oligarchy" and a "threat to American foreign policy and our continued support for the extremist Netanyahu government in Israel."
The exchange occurred as El-Sayed sought to address renewed questions regarding Piker, who campaigned with him during the Democratic primary. Piker faced criticism from several Democrats this month for remarks about American Jews and Israel, including from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senators Cory Booker, Elissa Slotkin, and Jacky Rosen.
Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed for comment but did not receive a response. Sanders chose not to focus on Piker, instead accusing Republicans and the media of distracting voters from economic issues. He remarked, "Like every other podcaster in the world, he says dumb things that people should reject."
El-Sayed also faced questions about Piker at the Michigan Democratic Party convention, where he emphasized the importance of focusing on issues affecting Michigan residents. He stated, "We’re in the state of Michigan. If you want to make this race about a streamer in California, I just think you’re missing the boat. This is about affordability in Michigan. This is about seeing a doctor in Michigan. This is about Donald Trump’s disastrous policies in Michigan. That’s what I’m focused on right now."
El-Sayed apologized for previous comments he made following a terrorist attack on a Michigan synagogue, stating, "To anybody who feels like my comments may have been hurtful, I’m really sorry. That was not my intention. We condemned that terrorist attack. We condemned it outright."
An August Fox News poll indicated Republican nominee Mike Rogers leading El-Sayed 51%-47%, within the margin of error, while a subsequent AARP survey showed a similar close contest. Fox polling found that 91% of Democrats supported El-Sayed, compared to 96% of Republicans supporting Rogers. Sanders advised El-Sayed to focus on economic issues rather than controversies surrounding Piker, stating, "Stay on the issues that impact working families in Michigan. Do that, you’re going to win — and I think he will."