Representative Debbie Dingell said she no longer wanted reporters to question her about Twitch streamer Hasan Piker during campaigning for Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. She said Piker’s views were not the focus of November’s election and argued that attention should instead centre on healthcare, affordability, hunger and other issues affecting voters.

Dingell nevertheless criticised Piker’s comments on Israel, rape and women, calling some of them inexcusable, and said El-Sayed should clearly distance himself from views he does not share. Her remarks follow condemnation of Piker by several Democratic politicians after his comments about American Jews and Israel; El-Sayed, who had previously campaigned with Piker, also said his campaign would focus on household costs, schools and healthcare.