Public disputes concerning the 2026 U.S. midterm election cycle, including campaigns, candidates, conventions, advertising, endorsements, and election-related policy promises.
Mike Rogers attributed a belief about 9/11 to Abdul El-Sayed based on his association with Hasan Piker. El-Sayed rejected that belief and challenged the premise that campaigning together establishes agreement.
Hasan Piker said he preferred Hamas over Israel in a hypothetical, using lesser-evil reasoning. Jon Favreau and the ADL rejected the comparison; Piker later acknowledged Hamas war crimes while maintaining that Israeli occupation was his overriding concern.
After the Temple Israel attack, Abdul El-Sayed condemned antisemitism but linked the assailant’s actions to an Israeli airstrike that killed relatives, describing violence as a cycle. Critics said it rationalized the attack or shifted responsibility; El-Sayed denied justification and later apologized for adding context.
Role at the time: United States representative, Meet the Press interview
Explicitly stayed out
Responding to
Hasan Piker’s “Hamas over Israel” comparison
"I think all of that is an irrelevant distraction."
Why we used this label
Raskin calls the dispute a distraction and expressly says it will not be worked out before the election, redirecting to domestic priorities. Criticism of Hamas and Netanyahu is not a mixed stance on Piker’s inclusion.
Role at the time: United States representative from Michigan
Explicitly stayed out
Responding to
Hasan Piker’s remarks about American Jews, Israel, and antisemitic violence
"I don't agree with Hasan Piker on a lot of stuff."
Why we used this label
Dingell directly tells reporters not to ask again and redirects to the election. General disagreement with Piker on unspecified matters is not a substantive mixed position on this passage.
Role at the time: Abdul El-Sayed's U.S. Senate campaign team responding to Reuters; individual spokesperson unnamed
Explicitly stayed out
Responding to
Abdul El-Sayed’s Sharia-law defense: religious freedom or support for religious government?
"El-Sayed’s campaign team declined to comment."
Why we used this label
Reuters explicitly records a decline in response to its inquiry. The evidence supports a campaign-level refusal, not silence, an endorsement of any characterization or a personal refusal by El-Sayed.
Travis Akers is an American educator, retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer, and advocate for military families. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, he writes and speaks about veterans' affairs, public education, gun safety, and politics.
Mike Collins is a Republican U.S. representative from Georgia's 10th Congressional District and the Republican nominee for the 2026 United States Senate election in Georgia.