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Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed spent the night before Election Day at a pool party with far-left streamer Hasan Piker, sparking pushback both from his primary opponent and his Republican opposition.
The event was hosted by a content creator in Detroit, Michigan, and also attended by progressive House candidates Melat Kiros and Chris Rabb, both members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), The Associated Press reported.
Michigan Democratic state Rep. Donavan McKinney was also reportedly in attendance.
Piker, who has roughly 10 million followers across multiple social media platforms, has made multiple appearances on the campaign trail with El-Sayed, raising questions about the ideological similarities between the two. Last month, Piker drew backlash after addressing a group of college students while wearing an outfit resembling that of former communist dictator Mao Zedong.
HASAN PIKER’S DEFENSE OF HAMAS HAVING ‘RIGHT TO RESIST MILITARILY’ DRAWS CONDEMNATION FROM HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, talks poolside with streamer Hasan Piker at a party for content creators supporting his campaign, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“I never would and never will criticize Mao Zedong,” Piker said earlier this year in a clip that recently resurfaced on social media. “One of the great leaders of this world.”
Piker has also said in the past that “America deserved 9/11” and has made controversial comments about Hamas and the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
While El-Sayed has said he doesn’t agree with all of Piker’s positions, he has faced criticism for not distancing himself from the controversial streamer.
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, films a social media video at a pool party for content creators supporting his campaign, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), running against El-Sayed in Tuesday night’s Senate primary, was asked about the relationship between El-Sayed and Piker in a press gaggle hours before polls closed.
“I don’t believe Mr. Piker lives here in our state. I do think his rhetoric should be denounced. I do think that my opponent should distance himself from him. I don’t know what they were doing last night at this pool party that was going on, but I was with Congresswoman Hillary Scholten and Debbie Stabenow,” Stevens told .
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, center left, talks poolside with streamer Hasan Piker, center right, at a party for content creators supporting his campaign, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Referring to Piker, Stevens said “some of this stuff makes people uncomfortable. Frankly, it makes me uncomfortable. You know, we don’t need these demagogues or people citing allegiance to Mao coming into Michigan.”
And pointing to El-Sayed, Stevens added, “Maybe instead of being with Mr. Piker, you know, if he ends up winning the nomination, maybe he’ll come with me and hear from some of the small businesses who don’t want this extreme politics coming into our state.”
ABDUL EL-SAYED SAYS RALLYING WITH HASAN PIKER DOESN’T MEAN HE ENDORSES ‘AMERICA DESERVED 9/11’ REMARK
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, talks poolside with streamer Hasan Piker at a party for content creators supporting his campaign, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“Instead of spending his final hours campaigning with Michiganders, Abdul El-Sayed spent it poolside with an antisemite and terrorist sympathizer who believes America deserved 9/11,” NRSC Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell told Digital in a statement on Tuesday.
The campaign of presumptive GOP nominee Mike Rogers also weighed in as voters headed to the polls on Tuesday.
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, talks poolside with streamer Hasan Piker at a party for content creators supporting his campaign, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“We’re getting ready to prosecute the case against Abdul, but it looks he’s already giving us a head start,” Alyssa Brouillet, Rogers’ campaign communications director, said in a statement to Digital. “This is giving fraud, not serious. And Michiganders are battling serious issues they need a senator to deal with—not someone who dances around with LA and NYC influencers who think ‘America deserved 9/11.’”
Hours before the pool party, Piker was at a campaign event with El-Sayed where a reporter asked him if he plans to campaign with the progressive Senate candidate after Tuesday night’s primary.
JAMES CARVILLE VOWS TO ABANDON DEMOCRATIC PARTY IF FAR-LEFT HASAN PIKER BECOMES LEADING VOICE
Streamer Hasan Piker attends a pool party for content creators supporting Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“Are you crazy?” Piker responded. “Of course.”
Digital reached out to the El-Sayed campaign and Piker’s team for comment.
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El-Sayed is set to square off against Stevens in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary Tuesday night, where polls close at 8 p.m. local time. El-Sayed, according to recent polling, is expected to advance to the general election in November to face Rogers in a race that could determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
The El-Sayed campaign did not respond to Digital’s request for comment by the time of publication.
