El-Sayed Asked Piker to Tone Down Campaign Rhetoric

Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed reportedly called streamer Hasan Piker and asked him to tone down his rhetoric, saying it was costing the campaign votes, according to two people El-Sayed told about the conversation. El-Sayed campaigned with Piker during the Democratic primary but has said he disagrees with some of his remarks, will not disavow him and does not plan to campaign with him again. Their association has drawn criticism from Republicans and concern among some Jewish voters and Democratic figures, amid El-Sayed’s criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and his efforts to build trust with Michigan’s Jewish community. El-Sayed has said he is focused on voters’ concerns about costs and other domestic issues, and polls describe his race against Republican Mike Rogers as competitive.