<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Michigan Democratic Senate candidate <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/abdul-el-sayed/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Abdul el Sayed</a> stated on Monday that he does not believe that the financial support from party leaders to help him defeat Republican candidate <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/mike-rogers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mike Rogers</a> contradicts his campaign pledge to reduce the influence of big money in politics. He also asserted that he would not be swayed by these funds if elected.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Senate Majority PAC, associated with Minority Leader <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/chuck-schumer/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chuck Schumer</a> (D-NY), has committed to spending $30 million to support el Sayed’s campaign in an effort to retain the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI).</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“They won’t,” el Sayed said during an appearance on <em>Fox News</em>, in response to host Martha MacCallum's question about whether special interests and corporations funding political action committees would expect to influence him once in office. “They won’t, because I’ve been very, very clear that I am not interested in doing the bidding of corporations. I will not sit down with a corporate lobbyist. And if they ever say, ‘Well, we got you elected,’ I’ll be like, ‘Oh, you mean the $70 million you spent against me in my primary? Yeah, that’s not the case.’”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">El Sayed referred to the significant financial support that outside groups and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee provided to his primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI). The upcoming general election between el Sayed and Rogers is considered a competitive race, with implications for the balance of power in the Senate.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">El Sayed has accepted the financial backing from Schumer's PAC while expressing his reluctance to support Schumer for another leadership term. He has also faced criticism for hosting high-dollar fundraising events in California and New York, including with billionaire Democratic donor George Soros.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“When individuals want to give to my campaign, I welcome their support,” el Sayed stated. “You know what I don’t do? I don’t call corporations. I don’t call AIPAC.”</p>