Left-wing commentator and streamer Hasan Piker went off after Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate Francesca Hong lost Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary to establishment candidate David Crowley.
Piker, an avid socialist, has weighed in on several progressive and DSA-backed candidates throughout the 2026 midterm election cycle, with Michigan Democratic candidate Abdul el Sayed benefiting from Piker’s online following during his recent primary.
Following Hong’s defeat, Piker argued that Democratic establishment figures and the media had worked to undermine the campaign, while urging supporters not to become discouraged.
Piker said that opponents of the progressive movement would accuse them of being “anti-Semites” and “idealists.”
“Oh, Francesca Hong … was a bad candidate. Oh, she didn’t like Thanksgiving. F** them. And f*** Thanksgiving too,” he added, referencing Hong’s old social media posts about canceling the holiday that became a flashpoint in the campaign.
With millions of followers across Twitch, YouTube, and other social media platforms, Piker has become one of the most recognizable figures in progressive online media. His interviews, livestreams, and political commentary have attracted younger voters, making him an increasingly appealing stop for Democratic candidates seeking to reach audiences that consume little traditional news.
Piker pointed to Hong’s roughly 300,000 votes as evidence of the movement’s growing strength and urged supporters not to view the loss as a failure.
“Don’t get discouraged, because the media will do everything in its power to try to discourage,” he said, mocking the idea that Hong was a “loser” or a bad candidate.
Piker then argued that the establishment had been forced to mobilize significant political resources against Hong.
“Think about what the DSA has been able to accomplish in a … state like Wisconsin,” he said. “They had to muster so many powerful forces.”
HASAN PIKER ADMITS HE SHOULDN’T BE THE ‘BIGGEST SURROGATE’ FOR A CAMPAIGN
Piker specifically pointed to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI), claiming that party leaders had to “dust off Evers” and have him campaign for Crowley around the state to defeat Hong.
Piker also took aim at Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany, saying, “I will personally promise you that I’m gonna arrest Tom Tiffany with my bare hands.”