Abdul El-Sayed Pressed on Soros Ties and Campaign Money

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is facing scrutiny over his connections to the Soros family after mocking Republican rival Mike Rogers for taking corporate money. In an interview Monday on The Story, El-Sayed argued there is a clear distinction between accepting support from individual donors and relying on corporations or corporate-aligned interests.

The exchange came as El-Sayed continues to campaign on a promise to get “money out of politics.” Anchor Martha MacCallum questioned whether that message is weakened by his own ties to wealthy backers. El-Sayed’s graduate education was partly supported by the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, and George Soros’ nephew, Jeffrey Soros, hosted him at a fundraiser in Los Angeles last month, according to footage reviewed by Fox News Digital.

Asked about those relationships, El-Sayed defended them by drawing a line between individual giving and corporate influence. He said he welcomes support from individuals who want to contribute to his campaign, but said he does not call corporations for money. He also said he does not call AIPAC, repeating his argument that individual donors are different from institutional political spending.

That distinction was central to his defense throughout the interview. El-Sayed said corporations should not be able to buy politicians and argued that elected officials who take such money can become responsive to donor interests instead of voters. He pointed to lawmakers voting to keep prescription drug prices high as an example of what he sees as the consequences of corporate influence.

The issue becomes more complicated because the Soros political network has spent millions through political committees that are backing El-Sayed’s Senate bid. MacCallum also pressed him on the Senate Majority PAC, which has pledged $30 million to help elect him. She questioned whether money flowing through such outside groups, including money tied to corporate interests, could still create obligations for candidates once they reach Washington.

El-Sayed rejected that idea. He said the groups supporting him would not come back seeking favorable votes because he has been explicit that he is not interested in doing the bidding of corporations. He added that he would not sit down with a corporate lobbyist, framing that as part of his broader effort to reduce the role of corporations in shaping public policy.

Corporate money remains the core of his message

Despite the criticism, El-Sayed did not back away from his broader campaign argument. He said corporations are buying politicians at a record pace and maintained that this affects both major parties. In his view, the same corporations are financing candidates across the political spectrum, creating a system in which lawmakers answer to powerful interests rather than constituents.

He said that is exactly what he wants to end. For El-Sayed, the phrase “money out of politics” specifically means removing corporate money from the system, not refusing all support from wealthy individuals. That distinction is likely to remain a point of debate as the campaign enters its final stretch.

The controversy arrives as Democrats prepare their closing push in Michigan. Former President Barack Obama is expected to join El-Sayed on the campaign trail in the state later this month. In the same Fox News interview, El-Sayed also said Iran’s nuclear threat had been contained before President Donald Trump launched the war, and he insisted that he does not plan to “choke out” billionaires.