Michigan Democrat Erupts Over Twitch Streamer Questions During Senate Campaign

Clear Facts

• Rep. Debbie Dingell publicly demanded reporters stop asking about far-left streamer Hasan Piker during campaign events for Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed
• Dingell condemned Piker’s past statements on Israel and sexual violence as “simply inexcusable”
• Multiple prominent Democrats have distanced themselves from Piker following controversial remarks about American Jews and Israel

Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., publicly erupted at reporters Wednesday, demanding they stop asking about controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker while she campaigns for Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The outburst came during a student town hall with El-Sayed and Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.

“I am done, so don’t any reporter ask me again about Hasan Piker,” Dingell declared. “It’s not what November is about. Republicans are trying to make it. They’re trying to divide us, and we got to stop letting them try to divide us.”

Dingell didn’t stop there, criticizing the far-left streamer’s positions while appearing to mock his physical appearance and follower base.

“I don’t agree with Hasan Piker on a lot of stuff, and I really don’t agree with him on some of the woman things he said. And I’m still trying to figure out, is it the reason he exercises and looks buff is why he has so many followers.”

Later that same day on CNN’s “Situation Room,” Dingell intensified her criticism of the controversial online personality.

“Look, I’m going to say this to you: I’m tired of people trying to drag me into it. I strongly disagree with many of the things that Hasan Piker has said, from Israel to, quite frankly, if you’re a woman who has fought against sexual violence and domestic violence her whole life, what he has said about rape, etc., is simply inexcusable.”

The Michigan congresswoman didn’t hold back her disdain for Piker’s influence.

“I don’t understand some of the followers and why they follow people. And I got in trouble when I said, maybe it’s generational, he works out and they say he looks buff. What he has said is just wrong.”

Dingell then attempted to redirect attention to her preferred campaign issues.

“I think that — what I know that this election’s about in November is being able to reverse the healthcare cuts that we’ve had in this country, the millions of Americans who don’t have healthcare right now, the kids that are already going hungry, and the seniors, because we’ve cut the SNAP program. And we have to elect somebody that is not going to be a rubber stamp to the Trump policies we have seen the last two years. I think it’s incumbent upon Abdul to make it very clear to people that he doesn’t agree with things that Hasan Piker says. I pray we’re not going to see him in Michigan from now until the election.”

Dingell’s spokesperson Matt Krack reinforced her refusal to discuss Piker further in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Congresswoman Dingell made clear this afternoon she will not answer any more questions about him. She doesn’t agree with him on many things, but this election isn’t about him. It’s about healthcare, affordability, hunger, and other issues that impact working men and women,” Krack said.

The controversy surrounding Piker has rapidly spread through Democratic ranks. The far-left streamer recently sparked outrage by suggesting American Jews could become targets of violence if they continue to be perceived as singularly invested in Israel.

The backlash has been swift and widespread among Democratic officials. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.; and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., have all condemned Piker. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and numerous Democratic representatives including Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J.; Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y.; Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.; Brad Schneider, D-Ill.; Greg Stanton, D-Ariz.; and Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., have also spoken out against him.

El-Sayed himself, who previously campaigned alongside Piker, has now distanced himself from the controversial figure.

“[W]hile politicians and pundits try to make this race about a Twitch streamer, we’re going to be talking about gas, groceries, good schools, and healthcare. Because that’s what Michiganders keep asking about,” El-Sayed said in a Monday statement.

Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga’s office seized on the Democratic infighting, with a spokesperson telling Fox News Digital: “When Democrats like Debbie Dingell start running away from Abdul El-Sayed and his pals, you know their agenda is radioactive in Michigan.”

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