Shared donors link Michigan Senate hopeful and former GOP candidate amid Israel criticism
Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and ex-Republican congressional hopeful Dan Bilzerian have nearly two dozen donors in common, all of whom have contributed over $61,000 to their campaigns.
Federal Election Commission data reveal that Michigan Senate contender Abdul El-Sayed and former Republican congressional candidate Dan Bilzerian share nearly two dozen donors, whose combined contributions exceed $61,000. Despite occupying opposite ends of the political spectrum, both have publicly called for an end to U.S. assistance to Israel. Bilzerian, who lost a primary to Rep. Randy Fine, employed a 2½-minute AI-generated ad that labeled Fine with antisemitic slurs, drawing condemnation from Republican leaders.
El-Sayed, criticized for his association with influencer Hasan Piker, has repeatedly accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians. Among the overlapping donors are attorney Ibrahim Awad, who gave to both campaigns, and Hussein "Sam" Mahrouq, a Texas entrepreneur who also supports other anti-Israel politicians. The shared financial backing highlights a network of donors united by a common stance on Israel rather than party affiliation.
Why it matters
The overlap shows how single-issue politics can bridge partisan divides and influence multiple campaigns.
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