Abdul El-Sayed

Subject: Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, 2026, for the open seat Gary Peters is leaving, against Republican Mike Rogers Compiled: October 25, 2026 for the On Point Politics watchdog database, onpointpolitics.us Data cutoff: FEC data through September 30, 2026 as compiled by VoteLog, pre-general figures through October 14, 2026, independent expenditures through October 23, 2026. Next scheduled data drop: FEC 48 hour reports through Election Day and the post-general report due December 3, 2026, which should show late transfers on both sides.

Bottom line up front

El-Sayed beat Rep. Haley Stevens by less than a point in the August 4 primary despite heavy AIPAC aligned spending against him. He then set a Michigan record with $30.7 million raised from July 16 to September 30, 2026, per Bridge Michigan, bridgemi.com. VoteLog shows $45,175,567 raised through September 30, $39,666,902 of it from individuals and only $364,721 from PACs, votelog.org. He spends nearly all of it; cash was $3.8 million at September 30 against Rogers' $6.5 million.

Interests with money and a live decision:

1. Pro-Israel groups, opposing. UDP, AIPAC's super PAC, spent about $33 million in the primary against him and for Stevens, per AdImpact via Newsweek, and nearly $100,000 on general election mailers, newsweek.com. Newsweek, relaying another outlet, says UDP is moving up to $9 million to a pro-Rogers super PAC. The lever is U.S. aid to Israel, which he criticizes.
2. SMP and party. WinSenate at $36,579,898 is the largest group on his side. The DSCC gave $62,000 on August 5, 2026.
3. Progressive movement. Bernie Sanders endorsed him and is reported to have sent $1 million; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sent $1 million to a joint fundraising account. Both are Secondary until the post-general report.
4. Labor. Fighting for Michigan PAC counts $3,081,423 for him, and VoteLog lists a UAW related entry of $900,000 as its top funder.

Committee structure and treasurer

The committee name, FEC ID and treasurer were not verified. VoteLog shows $4,953,348 in transfers from authorized committees, consistent with the joint fundraising account that received the Ocasio-Cortez transfer. PAC donors are few: 49 PACs gave $277,196, led by the DSCC, A New Policy PAC at $25,703 and Progressive Voters of America at $10,000.

Small donors

Documented. About $11.2 million of his cycle total came from donors under $200, over a third of the total. About 55,000 donors who gave under $200 in the quarter but more than $200 for the cycle gave $2.5 million. About 28 percent of itemized money came from Michigan. Named max donors include Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott and several actors, bridgemi.com. He raised $8.7 million more from October 1 to 14, spokesman.com.

Inference: His money is national and small. That insulates him from any one donor but invites the out of state attack.

Pro-Israel

Documented. His message on money is money out of politics, money in your pocket, Medicare for All, bridgemi.com. He criticizes U.S. aid to Israel and AIPAC's spending. The Michigan Jewish Democratic Caucus said his AIPAC criticism functioned as a dog whistle. Rogers has said of AIPAC help, I'll take all of that help. El-Sayed called Rogers an AIPAC backed politician at a debate. AIPAC spokesperson Deryn Sousa said members were highly motivated, newsweek.com.

Inference: This is the bloc with the most money aimed at the race and the clearest stated ask. The late transfer timing means the public record will lag Election Day.

Party and leadership

Documented. WinSenate is funded by SMP at $171,120,000 across races. Lower Costs Now and Defend The Vote add $6,244,837 and $4,592,976. The state party and Stevens endorsed him after the primary.

Labor unions

Documented. Fighting for Michigan PAC spent about $1.5 million in the third quarter per Bridge. VoteLog lists a UAW related entry of $900,000 and Allen Liu at $355,700 as its funders. Bridge notes some unions worry about losing employer plans under single payer, bridgemi.com.

Own finances and disclosure history

He holds $50,001 to $100,000 in the Amana Growth Fund, which holds Apple, Alphabet and Nvidia. His spokesperson says he owns no stock directly, planetdetroit.org. No net worth estimate was found.

Enforcement and controversies

• Pharma lobbyist claim. PolitiFact rated Pants on Fire his June 14, 2026 claim that Rogers took a $14 million payout as a pharma lobbyist. Rogers sent a cease and desist on June 22. El-Sayed called it a mistake in a later video while saying Rogers spent years helping the pharmaceutical industry, api.politifact.com.
• Muslim Brotherhood allegation. A Hill headline reports Republican attacks alleging ties; the body did not load, so the allegation and his response are not stored.
• Hasan Piker. Jewish Democrats criticized his association with the streamer, bridgemi.com. His response was not found.
• No FEC matter was found in sources read.

Deal table

Levers and calendar

Calendar. Election November 3, 2026. Post-general report December 3, 2026, which should show the UDP transfer and the late progressive transfers. New Senate seated January 2027.

What we could not verify

• Committee name, ID, treasurer, joint fundraising committee name, vendors.
• The Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez transfers and the UDP transfer, all relayed from an outlet this project does not cite.
• The Muslim Brotherhood allegation and response.
• Senate candidate financial disclosure beyond the Amana holding.
• Bodies not read: crainsdetroit.com which failed to load, thehill.com which failed to load, detroitnews.com and prospect.org