Jeffrey Soros, nephew of billionaire donor George Soros, spoke at a fundraiser on September 29, 2026, about his connection to Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Soros stated that he has known El-Sayed since 2012, when he interviewed him for the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, which later contributed to El-Sayed's graduate education. The event was hosted at Soros' home in California, and attendees were asked not to record the proceedings.
Soros expressed his appreciation for the attendees and recounted his first meeting with El-Sayed. He noted, "I just wanted to welcome you here and express my appreciation for coming. And it’s been a privilege. Speaking of privilege, I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Abdul since 2012. I got to interview him as a finalist for my parents' fellowship." El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, was awarded the fellowship in 2012, which offered up to $90,000 over two years.
A flyer for the event indicated that guests could contribute up to $57,800 to the Abdul for Michigan Victory Fund. Jeffrey Soros and his wife, Catharine, co-hosted the event with Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor, and Ben Rhodes.
El-Sayed has focused his campaign on reducing the influence of money in politics. In a 2025 interview, he criticized the system that allows corporations and wealthy individuals to exert influence. The Republican nominee, Mike Rogers, responded to the fundraiser footage, stating, "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," according to communications director Alyssa Brouillet. The El-Sayed campaign did not comment on the fellowship remarks but highlighted the influence of corporate special interests in the race. A recent poll shows Rogers leading El-Sayed 44.4% to 43.1%.