Is it possible to campaign against dark money while having ties to it? That's the question surrounding Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the Michigan Senate, whose past involvement with opaque political funding has raised eyebrows.
El-Sayed has publicly committed to opposing undisclosed political contributions, yet his record shows ties to groups that benefit from such funds. From 2019 to 2023, he served in leadership roles, including as president, at Michigan United, a nonprofit based in Southwest Detroit with additional offices in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Flint. This organization has a political arm tied to dark money and super PACs, and it has received significant funding from networks such as Arabella Advisors, which is known for supporting Democratic causes through undisclosed donors.
Now, as El-Sayed seeks a Senate seat, his history with these groups is under scrutiny. Critics point to a contradiction between his pledges and his past affiliations. How can a candidate oppose a system he once navigated?
El-Sayed’s political story began with an unsuccessful 2018 run for Michigan governor. During that campaign, he received $9,352 in support from the Michigan People’s Campaign Independent Expenditure Committee, a super PAC, for canvassing, advertising, and materials, according to state finance records.
After losing the primary, El-Sayed joined the board of Michigan United, the 501(c)(3) arm linked to Michigan People’s Campaign, serving from 2019 to 2023. Tax disclosures show he was a board member in 2019, 2020, and 2022, and president in 2021 and 2023. This overlap with groups tied to undisclosed funding is hard to ignore.
El-Sayed has been vocal about rejecting shadowy contributions. "We’ve gotten this far without a dime of dark money," he posted on Facebook recently.
Michigan United’s funding raises further questions. During El-Sayed’s tenure, the group, under the name Michigan Organizing Project, received $112,000 from the Hopewell Fund, part of the Arabella Advisors network, which The New York Times notes is used by donors for political purposes without transparency.
Additionally, the affiliated Michigan People’s Committee got $795,000 from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, another Arabella-linked entity, between 2020 and 2023. Neither Michigan United nor its partners disclose donors, though some funding is traceable through tax reports from donor foundations, according to The Washington Free Beacon.
Michigan United itself has been upfront about its political goals. "Michigan United, along with Michigan People’s Campaign, our affiliated 501(c)(4), is serious about building long-term, political power," an archived page on its website declared.
El-Sayed’s time at Michigan United wasn’t just about funding—it also tied him to controversy. A November report by the Washington Free Beacon highlighted an anti-police protest organized by the group during his board tenure that turned violent, with 1,000 protesters involved.
While El-Sayed isn’t directly linked to the violence, the association with an event that devolved into tragedy doesn’t help his image as a reformer.
Attempts to get El-Sayed’s perspective have gone unanswered. His campaign declined to comment on these ties and events, leaving the public to piece together the puzzle. Silence often speaks louder than words in politics.
The core issue isn’t just El-Sayed’s past—it’s the broader hypocrisy that plagues political discourse. Many candidates decry systems they’ve benefited from, and while that’s not unique to one party, it erodes faith in genuine reform. Voters deserve leaders who walk the talk, not just talk it.
El-Sayed’s pledge to tackle undisclosed funding is laudable, but his history with Michigan United muddies the waters.
If he’s serious about change, addressing this contradiction head-on could rebuild trust. Until then, skeptics will see this as another case of convenient campaign rhetoric.
