El-Sayed Waves Off Piker Controversy, Says Michigan Race Is About Gas and Grocery Prices

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed pushed back on questions tying him to streamer Hasan Piker during a televised appearance discussed on the Sept. 18 episode of 2Way, titled "'Frustrated' Abdul El-Sayed Pushes Back on Hasan Piker Issue in Surprise MS NOW Appearance."

El-Sayed told his interviewer that voters are not asking about Piker, a California-based streamer, when they answer the door. He argued the real issue in Michigan is the cost of gas and groceries, and he contrasted that with Republican opponent Mike Rogers, who he said skipped a Detroit debate to campaign in Dallas with President Trump instead. El-Sayed pointed to the tariff dispute and the conflict involving Iran as examples of Trump actions he said are costing Michigan residents money. "He is a streamer in California," El-Sayed said, dismissing the relevance of the Piker connection.

The host conducting the interview backed El-Sayed's framing on air, saying it is "total bullshit for the Republican Party to be so shocked" that a single appearance with a streamer has become a campaign flashpoint, while Trump's own remarks and actions draw no similar scrutiny from his own party, according to the host's comments played on 2Way.

The exchange comes as at least one Democratic donor is breaking from the party over the same concern. Al Motter, described on 2Way as a longtime Democrat whose father worked for Ted Kennedy, said on a prior edition of the program that Piker's rhetoric would become a liability if El-Sayed wins the Senate seat, warning it "will be hung around our neck like an albatross." Motter said he made his first-ever donation to a Republican Senate candidate this week, giving to Rogers because he considers it "existential" that El-Sayed not win.

The 2Way host framed Michigan as an outlier among competitive 2026 Senate races, noting El-Sayed does not hold the wide lead some polling models project for Democrats in a favorable political year, and said Republicans are increasingly focused on close contests in New York, Minnesota and Maine as well.

Heard on 2Way — "Frustrated" Abdul El-Sayed Pushes Back on Hasan Piker Issue in Surprise MS NOW Appearance (2026-09-18).