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Stop asking me about Hasan Piker, Rep. Debbie Dingell says at El-Sayed rally

‘This election is about what’s going to happen when we elect Abdul to the United States Senate. I am done,’ Dingell said, suggesting criticism of Piker is a Republican ploy

EFF KOWALSKY / AFP via Getty Images

Democratic Senate candidate from Michigan Abdul El-Sayed speaks while Reps. Jamie Raskin and Debbie Dingell listen during a Student Meet and Greet at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor, Mich., on August 26, 2026.

Speaking at a rally for Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Wednesday, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) brushed aside criticisms of El-Sayed’s relationship with antisemitic streamer Hasan Piker and said she wants to stop talking about Piker altogether.

The streamer has faced a torrent of criticism, including from top Democratic leaders, in recent days after making comments suggesting that Jews supportive of Israel have invited antisemitic violence on themselves. El-Sayed repeatedly campaigned with Piker and some Democratic lawmakers say he hasn’t done enough to distance himself from or condemn Piker’s comments.

“I’m done. This election is about what’s going to happen when we elect Abdul to the United States Senate. I am done,” Dingell said, kicking off the rally at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “So don’t any reporter ask me again about Hasan Piker. It’s not what November is about.”

Dingell said she doesn’t “agree with Hasan Piker on a lot of stuff, and I really don’t agree with him on some of the [things he said about] women” and said she doesn’t understand why he has become popular, but suggested questions about Piker are a Republican tactic to divide Democrats.

“Republicans are trying to divide us, and we’ve got to stop letting them divide us,” she said. “You need to go out there and define what this election is about. Don’t let others do it. They’re trying to divide us. They’re trying to take us off of so many other issues.”

Dingell chairs the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, serving as a member of House Democratic leadership.

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