Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed appeared Thursday on CNN’s The Source and answered Republican rival Mike Rogers, who had faulted him for appearing with streamer Hasan Piker after Piker said the United States deserved the September 11 attacks. El-Sayed argued Rogers was avoiding the problems voters actually confront and would be mistaken to treat a California online personality as the central campaign question.

Host Kaitlan Collins then cited a Republican convention attendee who, after Senator Ted Cruz named El-Sayed, declared that El-Sayed should be shot. El-Sayed replied that open appeals to harm have grown routine, that few politicians condemn them, and that democracy exists to settle disputes without violence. He said participants must reject such language, treat politics as problem-solving rather than combat, and return attention to healthcare and a dignified life.