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Far-left streamer Hasan Piker is getting dragged online after calling for Texas Senate nominee James Talarico to "play ball" by governing as a leftist if elected in this year's midterms.
Talarico, running to be the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Texas in more than three decades, has publicly realigned on some of his more radical stances and tried to campaign on a more moderate platform despite his previous comments.
But Piker, who has gained prominence through his relationship with socialist-aligned Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, appears to want Talarico to pull a bait-and-switch if he wins in November.
"Hopefully, after James Talarico wins, we've got to hold him to account," Piker said during a campus event at the University of Texas at Austin. "We've got to make sure that he doesn't become another, 'do nothing Democrat' 'business as usual,' and we've got to keep up that pressure.
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As his campaign has progressed, Talarico has rolled back on some of his controversial statements like his claim that "God is non-binary." But he continues to back progressive policies like universal healthcare, arguing his beliefs stem from "biblical grounds."
Piker's recent remarks quickly became ammunition for Republicans. Talarico's opponent, GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pounced, claiming that Piker is saying the quiet part out loud and showing the pressure Talarico could face from the party's left flank if he were to ascend to the U.S. Senate representing the Lone Star State.
"James Talarico is bought and paid for by the Democratic Socialists," Paxton posted in response to Piker's comments on Talarico. "And if he wins, they'll cash in at YOUR expense: raising your taxes and making life more expensive to pay for their radical agenda. Texas can't afford Talarico."
Ted Cruz said on X: "When they tell you who they are…believe them."
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"James Talarico will be nothing more than a puppet of the radical left," Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas posted.
Piker erupted in the left-wing party over the past couple years, most notably campaigning with El-Sayed. Democrats, including El-Sayed, are now distancing themselves from Piker after many of his controversial statements caught heat - like his claim that "America deserved 9/11."
"Hasan 'America Deserved 9/11' Piker expects James Talarico would support his extreme agenda & be beholden to his base," Fox News Political Analyst Guy Benson warned.
"He think he's a mafia boss, and with the psychotic state of today's Democrat party, he's kinda right…" Dave Rubin posted.
New York City Council member Vickie Paladino said, "Hasan Piker says he's the one actually in charge of the Democrat party."
Piker's comments, mixed with Talarico's back-and-forth from progressive to moderate rhetoric, have sparked skepticism about the direction the Texas Democrat would take in governing if elected.
"Here we have Hasan Piker-an outspoken socialist, hater of Israel and opponent of capitalism - telling us exactly what he expects from James Talarico if elected," one user posted. "He says, 'We gotta remind [James] that we are the force that backed him…' and got him elected and that we expect him to remember that and fall in line. Every Republican, Independent and even common-sense Democrat even thinking about voting for Talarico needs to see this and think deeply about it."
"A huge reason not to vote for Talarico he has to answer to the Fascist wing of his party," another posted. "No thanks."
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Other users on social media argued Piker's comments are irrelevant to Talarico's campaign, and would not impact the agenda he would bring to the Senate if elected.
"Hasan needs to shut the hell up," a X user named Adam Cochran posted. "He has nothing to do with Talarico's campaign. Talarico's campaign is the success of Talarico's morals, policies and his hard working team's outreach to the people of Texas."
"What is Hasan even talking about," another user posted. "Talarico isn't DSA and doesn't owe DSA anything. He will be a senator that represents Texans, not California Socialists like Hasan."
Talarico's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
