Abdul El-Sayed Faces Scrutiny Over Fundraiser With Soros Nephew
The Michigan Senate candidate, who advocates for removing money from politics, is scheduled to attend a high-dollar event hosted by Jeffrey Soros.
Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, whose platform includes removing "money out of politics," is slated to attend a fundraising event in California hosted by Jeffrey Soros, the nephew of billionaire philanthropist George Soros. The event, scheduled for September 28, 2025, at Soros's West Hollywood home, will also feature former Obama advisors and Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau, Tom Vietor, and Ben Rhodes, along with other Hollywood figures.
A flyer obtained by Punchbowl News indicates that guests can donate up to $57,800 to the Abdul for Michigan Victory Fund at the meet-and-greet. This fundraiser comes as El-Sayed has frequently criticized the influence of wealthy donors and corporations in politics, stating that billionaires primarily seek political power with their financial contributions.
George Soros, an uncle of the event's host, has a long history of funding political causes and campaigns through his Open Society Foundations. These initiatives have included supporting prosecutors advocating for criminal justice reform, such as bail reform and the elimination of mandatory minimum prison sentences. The Open Society Foundations have also provided significant grants to organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union for criminal justice reform campaigns and the Brennan Center for Justice for anti-gerrymandering lawsuits.
Jeffrey Soros, son of philanthropists Paul and Daisy Soros, is a film producer and CEO of Los Angeles Media Fund. While it is unclear if George Soros will attend the event, representatives for Open Society Foundations were contacted for comment. The flyer also lists television showrunners Ed Redlich and Sarah Timberman, venture capitalist Tom Unterman, and film executive Ahmos Hassan as attendees.
The fundraiser also occurs as El-Sayed has been critical of his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, for attending the GOP Midterm Convention in Dallas while missing a televised debate. El-Sayed's campaign has also faced scrutiny over past affiliations with streamer Hasan Piker, who has made controversial remarks about America and Jewish people. El-Sayed has since distanced himself from Piker.
Critics have pointed to the fundraiser as a contradiction to El-Sayed's anti-establishment message. Alyssa Brouillet, communications director for Rogers' campaign, stated, "Abdul El-Sayed raising dark Soros money in California after begging Chuck Schumer for money in DC is the least surprising thing he’s done all cycle. That’s what a conman does — says one thing and does another. Michiganders can’t trust this guy."
In response, El-Sayed's campaign highlighted contributions received by Mike Rogers, stating, "Mike Rogers has taken over a million dollars from Big Pharma and spent years in Congress as a self-proclaimed ‘champion’ of drug companies, voting to keep prescription drug costs high." The campaign reiterated El-Sayed's commitment to fighting against corporate special interests and ending Citizens United to ensure democracy serves individuals, not billionaires.
El-Sayed recently met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other senators in Washington D.C. He is not the only Democratic candidate to seek fundraising support from wealthy figures in Hollywood; James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, also recently held a high-dollar fundraiser in Brentwood.