Haley Stevens may have lost Michigan‘s Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed, but she still has some advice for the man who beat her. Distance himself from political streamer Hasan Piker.
In a recent interview with Fox News, which was widely shared on X, Stevens was asked whether she’s concerned that El-Sayed was “too extreme” for Michigan voters, considering how close the primary was.
When she asks, “Would you call on Abdul El-Sayed today to moderate on any specific issues?” Stevens responded, “It certainly makes sense to get rid of this Hasan Piker affiliation.” She was revisiting an issue she repeatedly raised during the Democratic primary. She also pointed to El-Sayed’s performance among women and Black voters as potential weaknesses heading into the general election.
‘You Lost the Primary’: Stevens’ Advice Doesn’t Go Over Well
Stevens’ advice for El-Sayed irritated users on X, as many believed that she should stop criticizing her party’s teammate. Others criticized Stevens for continuing to focus on this topic: “Seems almost like Hasan Piker beat Stevens, not Abdul. Can’t even talk about policy when it’s about Abdul.” Someone else added: “HALEY, STOP. NO VOTER ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT HASAN THIS MUCH. LOG OFF.”
Not everyone dismissed Stevens’ concerns. El-Sayed defeated Stevens by less than one percentage point, leaving Republicans with an opportunity to appeal to Democrats who supported Stevens but remain skeptical of the nominee.
Stevens’ advice clearly didn’t sit well with some of the people watching the interview online. Whether El-Sayed takes any of it is another matter. With the primary behind them and Mike Rogers waiting in November, Democrats now have to decide how much of their primary fight they want to carry into the general election.
As one viewer rather bluntly put it, “Stevens, you lost the primary. Stop telling the winners how to campaign.”
