Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed's own 9/11 commemoration post set off a fresh round of Republican attacks Thursday night over his continued refusal to fully disavow podcaster Hasan Piker — who once said America “deserved” the attacks — with less than two months left before Election Day.
Why it matters: It's the latest flashpoint in one of the cycle's most competitive Senate races, landing one day after VP JD Vance branded Democrats the “party of hatred” at the GOP's midterm convention — and just as a new poll shows Republican nominee Mike Rogers and El-Sayed locked inside the margin of error.
Driving the news:
El-Sayed posted on X Thursday evening: “They didn’t just attack America that day they attacked the idea of America,” a message honoring 9/11 victims and the nation’s founding ideals, per Fox News.
Critics immediately tied the post to his continued association with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has said America “deserved” 9/11 and has appeared at El-Sayed campaign events.
El-Sayed’s campaign did not respond to Fox News’ request for comment on why he hasn’t more forcefully disavowed Piker.
It’s the latest flare-up in a monthslong pattern: Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) offered El-Sayed $50,000 earlier this month to hold a 9/11 rally alongside Piker, and old El-Sayed tweets comparing 9/11 deaths to COVID-19 and U.S. wartime casualties abroad resurfaced in late August, drawing bipartisan criticism.
By the numbers:
45.8%-44.4% — Rogers’ edge over El-Sayed among 600 likely voters in a Sept. 8 poll for the Detroit News and WDIV-TV, per Breitbart — inside the survey’s ±4-point margin of error, with 9% undecided.
46.7%-44.4% — El-Sayed’s lead among voters who say they’re already committed to a candidate, per the same poll.
10 points — the Republican enthusiasm edge the pollster measured, which he called the widest gap he’s seen across four election cycles, even with Trump’s approval at just 35% in the same survey.
What they’re saying:
“Shut up, you FRAUD.” — Libs of TikTok, on X, per Fox News.
“Campaigning with a guy who said we deserved 9/11… his brazen dishonesty makes him all the bigger piece of s---.” — GOP consultant Ryan Girdusky.
“You’re a disgrace. You remain unwilling to disavow your chief spokesman.” — NRSC communications director Joanna Rodriguez.
“How in God’s name is Abdul El-Sayed even close to winning this race?” — Overton Institute co-founder Joey Mannarino.
The other side: El-Sayed has previously said he personally rejects Piker’s remarks — telling “Fox & Friends” in April, “Of course I don’t think [9/11] was justified” — but has refused to cut ties with him, framing it as a stand against “cancel culture”: “Just because you appear with somebody, doesn’t mean you agree with them on everything,” he said. His campaign didn’t repeat that defense when asked about Thursday’s post.
What’s next:
El-Sayed and Rogers face off Nov. 3 for the open Michigan Senate seat, in what both parties now rate as a true toss-up.
The bottom line: With the race inside the margin of error, Republicans are betting El-Sayed’s Piker association can move persuadable voters — expect this exact fight to keep resurfacing between now and Election Day.
Go deeper:
Fox News: El-Sayed ignites firestorm after sharing 9/11 message on social media
RedState: Fetterman offers $50K, dares El-Sayed to appear with Hasan Piker on 9/11
RedState: Media take on deleted El-Sayed 9/11 tweets has both sides of the aisle up in arms
Breitbart: Mike Rogers leads Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan Senate poll