Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker has emerged as a player in several races, leveraging his large online following as he rallies with candidates during this year's midterm election cycle. The November 3 elections will determine which party controls Congress. Republicans seek to defend their narrow House and Senate majorities and Democrats look to capitalize on competitive races that could flip control of both chambers in their favor.
Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win control of the Senate and a net gain of three seats to win the House. With the stakes high, endorsements from prominent figures including President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama and other political heavyweights have drawn increased attention. Piker, a progressive online commentator, has also weighed in on several races, making the performance of candidates he has backed a closely watched test of the political influence of online personalities.
Piker has used his large audience on Twitch and other platforms to promote candidates and raise campaign funds, and he has appeared at political events. However, Piker's political profile has also made him a polarizing figure. Critics have pointed to controversial remarks and positions on foreign policy and antisemitism, while supporters argue that he has helped engage younger voters who may not consume traditional political media.
Piker has backed several candidates for the House and one Senate candidate that are on Tuesday's ballot. Other candidates Piker backed during the primaries lost their races. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan who is competing against Republican Mike Rogers, appeared with Piker at campaign events leading up to the primary but has since distanced himself from Piker after the streamer faced criticism for comments about Israel and Jewish Americans.
El-Sayed has led in most Michigan polls since the primaries. Nonpartisan elections forecaster Cook Political on Monday shifted its rating for the race from toss-up to Lean Democrat. The Democratic candidates endorsed or supported by Piker on the ballot: Mai Vang: A Democrat, Vang is challenging longtime Democratic incumbent Doris Matsui in California's 7th Congressional District, one of several intraparty contests highlighting tensions between the establishment and the progressive wing.
Since there are two Democrats running for the same seat, the Cook Political Report has rated the race as “solid D.” Piker has rallied with Vang. Angela Gonzales-Torres: In California's 34th District, progressive Angela Gonzales-Torres is challenging incumbent Jimmy Gomez in a Democrat-versus-Democrat contest shaped by an ongoing ethics investigation into Gomez. Piker has campaigned with Gonzales-Torres and featured her on his livestream.
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