Full Breakdown
Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Holds Hollywood Fundraiser Amid “Money-Out-of-Politics” Campaign
By Drooid · · How we work
Fundraiser at Soros Nephew’s Home
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed attended a fundraiser hosted at the West Hollywood residence of Jeffrey Soros, the nephew of billionaire philanthropist George Soros. The event, organized by Jeffrey and Catharine Soros, featured former Obama advisers, Pod Save America hosts, and several Hollywood producers. Each attendee was permitted to contribute up to $57,800 to the Abdul for Michigan Victory Fund. The gathering took place in September 2025, drawing attention because El-Sayed’s platform emphasizes eliminating large-scale political donations.
Campaign Messaging and Prior Actions
El-Sayed has repeatedly framed his Senate bid around “getting money out of politics” and has criticized corporate and billionaire influence. In a prior rally, he argued that billionaires could spend “$100 million… beyond political power.” The fundraiser’s location and donor ceiling appear at odds with that message, especially given the Soros family’s long-standing support for progressive causes through the Open Society Foundations, which has funded the ACLU and the Brennan Center for Justice.
Official Statements & Responses
El-Sayed’s campaign defended the event by noting that his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, also receives substantial contributions from “big-pharma” donors, according to a spokesperson for Rogers’ campaign. The spokesperson added that corporate “dark money” is spending millions to support Rogers’ Senate bid. In Washington, D.C., El-Sayed met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic senators, a detail the campaign highlighted when questioned about the California fundraiser.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Now, in case you're wondering, there is no Dallas, Michigan” — Abdul El-Sayed, the campaign spokesperson
- “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,” — Alyssa Brouillet, communications director for Rogers' campaign