Representative Hillary Scholten declined to say whether she would support Abdul El-Sayed if he wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary. She instead criticised his association with political streamer Hasan Piker and accused El-Sayed of making sexist attacks on female rivals, highlighting divisions within the state party ahead of an important election.

El-Sayed, a progressive former Wayne County health director, is competing against Representative Haley Stevens to succeed retiring Senator Gary Peters, with the primary scheduled for 4 August. The race has split Democratic support between establishment figures backing Stevens and progressive allies backing El-Sayed; control of the US Senate is considered to be at stake in Michigan’s general election.