Minnesota Democrats Divide Over Planned Oct. 26 Event Featuring Hasan Piker

Public condemnations from senior lawmakers and Jewish groups raise political and reputational risks for the party days before competitive statewide races.

Overview

The Minneapolis event on Oct. 26 with streamer Hasan Piker, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and state Sen. Omar Fateh remains scheduled and Fateh said RSVPs sold out within five minutes.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig publicly criticized Piker over the weekend for past inflammatory remarks, with the DFL Jewish Caucus, the JCRC of Minnesota and the Dakotas, and the ADL issuing sharp rebukes.
An unnamed source told reporters that some Democratic leaders have privately urged Omar and Fateh to cancel the event while several other senior DFL figures and the state party declined to comment.
Jewish groups say Piker’s record of antisemitic and pro‑terrorist statements has eroded trust in the party and warned that hosting him could alienate Jewish voters in tightly contested Senate and governor races.
The controversy follows broader scrutiny of Representative Omar after a recent federal search of her home, and the episode highlights growing tensions between grassroots enthusiasm for the event and party leaders’ concern about election‑week optics.