Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., said Wednesday that far-left streamer Hasan Piker « should be condemned, » publicly breaking with a prominent campaign ally of Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed as Democrats try to unite after a bruising Michigan primary and hold an open battleground Senate seat in November.
Stevens, who lost the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed last week, reiterated her criticism of Piker on NewsNation’s « Vargas Reports » when host Elizabeth Vargas asked about the streamer’s involvement in the race.
« I believe he should be condemned. I do. I said that, that’s what I was just saying to you, » Stevens said. « I was saying, On election day, I said that, and if asked again, and you’re asking me, I do think he should be condemned. I don’t know what the guy has to do with Michigan. »
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Republican National Committee national spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre, responding to the growing scrutiny of Piker, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that Democrats should formally disavow him.
« Hasan Piker is a Hamas-hugging radical with a long history of threatening rape and violence against those he disagrees with, » Baldassarre said. « Democrats would do right to disavow him, but they’ll continue to bend to his will like spineless, useful idiots. »
Stevens also rejected the idea that Piker represented the Democratic Party and questioned his place in its politics.
« I don’t agree with Piker. I don’t think he’s a part of the Democratic Party, she said. « You know, maybe Bernie can talk to him. I don’t really know. »
MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS BACKS EL-SAYED AFTER NARROW PRIMARY DEFEAT, CALLS SOCIALISM ‘DANGEROUS’
Piker became one of El-Sayed’s most visible outside supporters during the Michigan primary, appearing alongside the candidate at campaign events and joining him at a Detroit pool party on the eve of the election. The appearance came as El-Sayed’s association with Piker became an increasingly prominent issue in the closing stretch of the race.
Hours before polls closed, Stevens told Fox News Digital that El-Sayed should distance himself from the streamer and denounce his rhetoric.
« I don’t believe Mr. Piker lives here in our state. I do think his rhetoric should be denounced, » Stevens said. « I do think that my opponent should distance himself from him. »
ABDUL EL-SAYED SAYS RALLYING WITH HASAN PIKER DOESN’T MEAN HE ENDORSES ‘AMERICA DESERVED 9/11’ REMARK
Despite that criticism, Stevens said after losing the primary that she would support El-Sayed against Republican nominee Mike Rogers in November. During a Tuesday appearance on Fox News’ « America’s Newsroom, » Stevens said Democratic primary voters had made their choice while emphasizing that she would not abandon her own political positions.
« I believe in democracy. He won the majority of the votes, and I’m going to continue to stand by my positions, » Stevens said.
El-Sayed previously rejected some of Piker’s most controversial remarks while resisting pressure to sever ties with him. When NBC host Kristen Welker asked El-Sayed about Piker’s past statement that « America deserved 9/11, » El-Sayed called the remark a « dumb statement » and said the United States did not deserve the terrorist attacks while criticizing what he characterized as « cancel culture. »
« Of course it was a dumb statement and, of course, I think Hasan himself would say that was a dumb statement, » El-Sayed said.
El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers in November for an open seat created by the retirement of Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., one of the contests expected to help determine control of the Senate.
Fox News Digital reached out to Piker, El-Sayed, Sanders and Stevens for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/media/haley-stevens-condemns-hasan-piker-rallies-behind-el-sayed-narrow-primary-loss
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Publish date : 2026-08-13 18:02:00
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