El-Sayed Addresses Controversial Ties and Views During Senate Debate

<p>Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed faced approximately an hour of questions on September 16, 2026, regarding his connections to streamer Hasan Piker, his stance on Israel, campaign financing, and his affiliations with socialist groups. This occurred after his Republican opponent Mike Rogers opted not to participate in the scheduled debate in Detroit.</p><p>During the debate, El-Sayed condemned Piker's rhetoric and refrained from providing a direct answer regarding U.S. recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. He also responded to inquiries about his relationship with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).</p><p>Rogers did not attend the debate, having declined the invitation earlier that day, citing concerns about the moderator's potential bias. El-Sayed accepted the invitation shortly after it was extended on August 5, following Michigan's primary.</p><p>During the debate, moderator Roop Raj asked El-Sayed if he could completely disavow Piker's offensive comments. El-Sayed responded affirmatively, specifically addressing Piker's remarks about Jewish Americans. He stated, "When Hasan made these comments about Jewish Americans and Jewish Michiganders, I disavowed them entirely."</p><p>El-Sayed elaborated that he disagreed with many of Piker's statements, including those related to 9/11 and Jewish Americans. However, he defended his decision to engage with Piker, asserting that dialogue does not equate to endorsement and expressing a desire to connect with Piker's followers.</p><p>When questioned about the U.S. recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, El-Sayed emphasized his belief in equal rights for both Palestinians and Jewish Israelis, stating, "I believe in equal rights to peace, dignity and self-determination for Palestinians and Jewish Israelis alike." He criticized the framing of the question, suggesting it ignored the rights of Palestinians.</p><p>El-Sayed accused Rogers of attempting to turn the election into a "culture war" focused on his ethnicity and Muslim faith. This remark followed a question about whether he would return campaign contributions from individuals associated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which has faced scrutiny over alleged ties to Hamas.</p><p>El-Sayed defended CAIR as a civil rights organization and accused Rogers of trying to make the election about his identity. He also criticized Rogers for his campaign funding sources, suggesting the Republican candidate was influenced by corporate interests.</p><p>El-Sayed stated, "I believe in an America that is big enough for all of us: Mike Rogers, Donald Trump, JD Vance. They believe that some people are more American than others." He further claimed that diversity exists within the Republican Party.</p><p>When asked about his relationship with the DSA, El-Sayed clarified that he is not a member but acknowledged the importance of welcoming DSA supporters into the Democratic Party. He has previously rejected the socialist label, identifying instead as a capitalist and arguing that one does not need to be a socialist to advocate for healthcare or infrastructure.</p><p>The candidates are scheduled to meet again on October 8 in Grand Rapids and October 21 in Detroit ahead of the general election in November.</p>