Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., is urging Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed to distance himself from streamer Hasan Piker as the two Democrats move beyond their primary contest and toward the November general election, as reported by Fox News.
Stevens made the comments on “The Sunday Briefing” after losing the Democratic Senate primary to El-Sayed.
Although she has said she remains committed to the Democratic Party and is backing the party’s nominee, Stevens maintained her concerns about El-Sayed’s association with Piker.
“It certainly makes sense to get rid of this Hasan Piker affiliation,” Stevens said.
She also argued that Democrats’ positions on healthcare, democracy and Black-owned businesses were preferable to those of Republican nominee Mike Rogers, who is set to face El-Sayed in the general election.
The comments came after Stevens was asked whether El-Sayed had done anything beyond winning the primary to address concerns among groups that had supported her campaign.
The groups mentioned included Jewish voters, Black voters, and Reagan-era Democrats.
Stevens pointed to her own performance with those constituencies during the primary and described herself as a Zionist Democrat.
She also argued that the Democratic Party should have room for voters and communities with differing political backgrounds.
“I came really close [to winning the primary], and I’m still a Democrat. I’m still out here talking about my views and values. I want the people who share my views and values to feel safe and to feel heard in the [Democratic Party].”
El-Sayed defeated Stevens in the Democratic primary earlier this month. The result placed him at the center of a general election campaign for a Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
The primary campaign had featured significant differences between Stevens and El-Sayed, with the latter running as a progressive candidate.
El-Sayed’s campaign also drew attention because of his association with Piker, a prominent online political streamer.
On Aug. 3, El-Sayed and Piker were photographed talking at a Detroit party for content creators supporting El-Sayed’s campaign.
The image was taken after El-Sayed’s primary victory and became part of the discussion surrounding his relationship with the streamer.
Stevens had previously criticized Piker during the primary campaign. Following the election, she continued to argue that El-Sayed should shift his focus toward Michigan voters as he prepares for the general election.
The Senate contest is considered an important race for both parties because Michigan is a closely contested state and the seat is open following Peters’ retirement.
Republicans are seeking to retain their Senate majority, while Democrats are attempting to regain control of the chamber.
El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers on Nov. 3. Rogers, a former congressman, is seeking the Senate seat after previously running for the chamber in Michigan in 2024.
A Fox News poll cited in the report showed Rogers leading El-Sayed by four percentage points in the general election matchup.
The poll also indicated that El-Sayed was receiving less support among Black voters, women, and suburban voters than former Vice President Kamala Harris received in Michigan during the 2024 presidential election.
The Michigan race is expected to receive significant national attention because of its potential effect on Senate control.
With Peters retiring, both parties have an opportunity to compete for the open seat rather than defending an incumbent.
El-Sayed’s primary victory also followed a campaign in which he received support from progressive figures and organizations.
His victory over Stevens demonstrated his ability to consolidate enough Democratic primary voters to secure the nomination, but the general election will involve a broader electorate.
Stevens’ decision to continue supporting the Democratic nominee while publicly calling for a change in his association with Piker illustrates the challenge facing the party after a competitive primary.
She has said she remains a Democrat and wants voters who share her political views to feel represented within the party.
For El-Sayed, the next phase of the campaign will involve appealing to voters beyond the Democratic primary electorate while defending his positions and political relationships.
The Senate candidates are scheduled to meet in the Nov. 3 general election, with the outcome potentially affecting the balance of power in Washington.
