<p>Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) dismissed left-wing political commentator Hasan Piker’s pro-Hamas remarks as an “irrelevant distraction” that he believes will not affect the outcome of the midterm elections.</p>
<p>Piker has been in the headlines for his comments about Hamas, which attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. In a recent interview, he stated he “would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time.” This has prompted criticism from some Democrats.</p>
<p>Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) publicly denounced Piker and withheld her endorsement of Abdul el Sayed, the Democratic nominee for the Senate race in Michigan, due to his association with Piker. El Sayed has responded by distancing himself from Piker, although they remain linked over their anti-Israel views.</p>
<p>When asked by NBC News’s Meet the Press host Kristen Welker if Piker should be included in the Democratic Party, Raskin expressed uncertainty about whether Piker considers himself a Democrat, noting that Piker criticized him for campaigning with el Sayed and other Democratic candidates in Michigan.</p>
<p>Raskin stated, “All of that is an irrelevant distraction.” He added, “Obviously, nobody supports Hamas, a terrorist organization which brutally attacked Israel on October 7. But people here also don’t support the policies of Bibi Netanyahu. But we’re not going to be able to work that out in the next 60 days.”</p>
<p>Raskin argued that the party’s focus should be on President Donald Trump and his policies for the midterm elections.</p>
<p>Democrats are aiming to retake control of Congress this fall. While Republicans are at risk of losing their narrow majority in the House, Democrats are also seeking control of the Senate. El Sayed is one such Democrat running for the Senate seat, facing former Michigan Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in November.</p>
<p>El Sayed and Piker have appeared together at several campaign events early in the 2026 primary election cycle before controversy arose around Piker. Their political views differ slightly—Piker identifies as a socialist, while el Sayed is a progressive who welcomes support from the Democratic Socialists of America.</p>
<p>Both Democrats and Republicans have accused Piker of antisemitism regarding his critical remarks about Israel and Jewish Americans.</p>