Abdul El-Sayed shares dozens of donors with ex-GOP candidate at center of antisemitism controversy
Michigan Senate hopeful and former Florida congressional candidate share donors, sparking debate over campaign financing and extremist ties
A review of federal campaign finance records has revealed that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed of Michigan and former Republican congressional contender Dan Bilzerian of Florida have attracted contributions from the same donors. The shared backers have given the pair more than $61,000 in total—$38,626 to El‑Sayed and $23,144 to Bilzerian—according to data from the Federal Election Commission and a report by Fox News Digital.
Donors and amounts
Ibrahim Awad – Georgia attorney and vocal critic of Israel, donated $12,651.88 to Bilzerian via a joint fundraising committee on April 25, 2026, and $7,000 to El‑Sayed in the period from May 2025 to April 2026. Awad has called Gaza “a Holocaust” and described Zionism as “toxic.” He said, “It’s a Holocaust… it’s even worse than the World War II Holocaust because it’s happening in real time right in front of us.”
Hussein “Sam” Mahrouq – Texas businessman, owner of Enterprises International (parent company of AutoMax and Dollar Rent‑A‑Car), donated $3,500 to El‑Sayed’s campaign and more than $1,000 through a joint committee supporting Bilzerian. He has also contributed $400,000 to the American Priorities PAC, a group formed to counter the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Mahrouq, who has said he is the child of Palestinian refugees, declined to explain whether his donations were motivated by either candidate’s stance on Israel.
Muhi Khwaja – Co‑founder of the American Muslim Community Foundation, gave $625 to El‑Sayed and $26.68 to Bilzerian. Khwaja has written about the need for the philanthropic community to respond to the “collective punishment” faced by Palestinians, adding, “The Israel‑Hamas war has made one thing clear: The philanthropic world can no longer turn a blind eye to the collective punishment facing Palestinians.”
Political positions and controversies
El‑Sayed, a former mayor of Detroit, runs on a progressive platform that includes abolishing ICE, implementing Medicare for All, and increasing taxes on the wealthy. He has repeatedly accused Israel of committing “genocide” against Palestinians and has been criticized for ties to social‑media influencer Hasan Piker, who likened Hamas to a “fascist settler‑colonial apartheid state.” After Piker made remarks about Jewish Americans, El‑Sayed publicly distanced himself from the commentator.
Bilzerian, a former Republican congressional candidate from Florida, has championed lower taxes, reduced regulation, and Trump‑era mass deportation efforts. In the primary race against Republican Rep. Randy Fine, Bilzerian’s campaign drew sharp criticism from Republican leaders for antisemitic attacks. An AI‑generated ad ran for 2½ minutes, calling Fine a “fat Jew,” and Bilzerian later said, “Jewish supremacy is the greatest threat to the world today.” He lost the primary, and his campaign was accused of fueling a hostile environment for a Jewish candidate.
Both El‑Sayed and Bilzerian have publicly criticized U.S. aid to Israel. El‑Sayed has called for the U.S. to halt all support to the Jewish state, while Bilzerian has echoed similar sentiments, though the two remain on opposite ends of the political spectrum.
Broader implications
The fact that donors have supported both candidates raises questions about the motivations behind campaign financing and the influence of donors who criticize Israel. The overlapping contributions also highlight how individuals with strong views on Middle‑East policy may align with candidates across the political spectrum.
Campaign finance experts note that while it is not uncommon for donors to support multiple candidates, the nature of the contributions—particularly from individuals who have made controversial statements about Israel and Zionism—has prompted scrutiny among voters and advocacy groups.
As the Michigan Senate race heads toward the November election, voters and observers will be watching how these financial connections play out, especially given the broader national debate over antisemitism and the role of campaign finance in shaping public policy.