{"id":2608178,"date":"2026-05-29T08:58:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T12:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abdul-el-sayed-pac-spent-just-13-on-candidates\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T08:58:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T12:58:56","slug":"abdul-el-sayed-pac-spent-just-13-on-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abdul-el-sayed-pac-spent-just-13-on-candidates\/","title":{"rendered":"Abdul El-Sayed PAC spent just 13% on candidates"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fabdul-el-sayed-pac-spent-just-13-on-candidates%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608178&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EXCLUSIVE \u2014 <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\">Michigan<\/a> Democratic Senate candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4520046\/abdul-el-sayed-hasan-piker-michigan-senate\/\">Abdul El-Sayed<\/a>\u2019s former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/committee\/C00780163\/?tab=filings\">political action committee<\/a> spent only about 13% of the money it raised directly supporting candidates and ballot initiatives, according to campaign finance records reviewed by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, while large sums instead went to consultants tied to his book and podcast projects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docquery.fec.gov\/pdf\/042\/202212149557585042\/202212149557585042.pdf\">The records show<\/a> Southpaw MI PAC, which El-Sayed launched after his unsuccessful 2018 gubernatorial bid, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/disbursements\/?data_type=processed&#038;committee_id=C00780163&#038;recipient_name=Purple+Tulip\">raised roughly<\/a> $422,806 during its time operating as both a Michigan state PAC and later a federal hybrid PAC, but only about $56,470 was reportedly spent supporting candidates or ballot initiatives.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4586603\/platner-collins-feud-over-iraq-war-service\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner and Collins feud over his \u2018decision to serve\u2019 in Iraq War: \u2018Slap in the face\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4586575\/aipac-antisemitism-focal-point-michigan-democratic-primary-debate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>AIPAC spending and antisemitism emerge as focal point in Michigan Democratic primary debate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4585486\/talarico-talafreako-taunt-merch-paxton\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Talarico embraces Paxton\u2019s \u2018Talafreako\u2019 taunt with new merch line<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By contrast, Southpaw reported spending roughly $268,333, or about 63% of the money it raised, on consultants and related services that were not itemized as direct support for candidates or ballot initiatives.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The campaign disputed the significance of those figures, arguing Southpaw\u2019s support for progressive candidates extended beyond direct financial contributions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El-Sayed created Southpaw MI PAC in 2018 following a failed run for governor, describing the organization at the time as an effort focused on electing progressive candidates and supporting statewide ballot initiatives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s just so much momentum that we know is latent out there and we want to give it a focus and give it an opportunity to get behind really great candidates across the state,\u201d El-Sayed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/story\/2018\/09\/24\/michigan-abdul-el-sayed-pac-800327\">told<\/a> <em>Politico<\/em> following the PAC\u2019s launch in 2018.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southpaw\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/actionnetwork.org\/groups\/southpaw-mi\">own mission statement <\/a>similarly said the PAC would support \u201ccandidates and causes that move us toward a more just, equitable, and sustainable Michigan\u201d while focusing on \u201cdown-ballot races in local communities across the State as well as statewide ballot proposals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Campaign finance records <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/disbursements\/?data_type=processed&#038;committee_id=C00780163&#038;recipient_name=Purple+Tulip\">show much of the PAC\u2019s spending <\/a>went toward consultants, communications firms, and political vendors rather than expenditures itemized as direct candidate support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among the largest recipients were Purple Tulip LLC and Bluefish Communications LLC, firms connected to individuals who also worked on El-Sayed\u2019s book and podcast projects during the same period.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/disbursements\/?data_type=processed&#038;committee_id=C00780163&#038;recipient_name=Purple+Tulip\">filings<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/disbursements\/?data_type=processed&#038;committee_id=C00780163&#038;recipient_name=Purple+Tulip\"> <\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/disbursements\/?data_type=processed&#038;committee_id=C00780163&#038;recipient_name=Purple+Tulip\">show <\/a>Southpaw paid approximately $75,455 to Purple Tulip and roughly $33,500 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/disbursements\/?data_type=processed&#038;committee_id=C00780163&#038;recipient_name=BLUEFISH\">to Bluefish Communications<\/a> during the PAC\u2019s federal hybrid phase alone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mi-boe.entellitrak.com\/etk-mi-boe-prod\/page.request.do?page=page.miboeCommitteeExpenditureAnalysisPublicSearch\">Michigan corporate records<\/a> identified Purple Tulip as being controlled by Tara Terpstra, who El-Sayed thanked in the acknowledgements section of his 2020 book <em>Healing Politics<\/em>, writing that the book \u201cwould not have happened without your attention to detail, your care, and your support.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Terpstra<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/crooked.com\/podcast\/the-anti-anti-vax-vaccine\/\"> was also credited with \u201cproduction support\u201d<\/a> and later listed as an associate producer for El-Sayed\u2019s podcast <em>America Dissected<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bluefish Communications was linked to Austin Fisher, who was similarly thanked in <em>Healing Politics<\/em> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/crooked.com\/podcast\/the-anti-anti-vax-vaccine\/\">served as a producer<\/a> on <em>America Dissected<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The El-Sayed campaign disputed the characterization that direct contributions alone reflected Southpaw\u2019s impact.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSouthpaw was created to give energized volunteers and supporters of Abdul\u2019s campaign in 2018 a way to support like-minded candidates in Michigan,\u201d an El-Sayed campaign spokesperson said. \u201cSouthpaw was not designed as a pass through, the way that many other Big Money PACs are, rather it was designed to coordinate direct outreach.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The spokesperson said the PAC provided candidates with \u201ctens of thousands of dollars worth in staff time, dialer, and text outreach support.\u201d The campaign also said several part-time staff members were employed elsewhere but that \u201cstaff time was strictly segregated\u201d to keep PAC activities separate from other roles. According to the spokesperson, the state PAC later transferred funds to the federal PAC as the state committee ceased operations and the federal PAC was ultimately shut down when El-Sayed entered public service in Wayne County.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The campaign finance records reviewed by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> do not allege any wrongdoing, and federal and state PACs are permitted to spend money on consultants, communications firms, compliance operations, and other political expenses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PAC\u2019s spending history is receiving renewed attention as El-Sayed is one of the leading contenders for Michigan\u2019s open Senate seat. The Democratic primary has increasingly become a broader ideological battle inside the party, with El-Sayed running to the left of Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El-Sayed, meanwhile, has emerged as the progressive standard-bearer in the race, winning backing from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and\u00a0the Working Families Party, which recently pledged to go \u201call in\u201d behind his candidacy. His campaign has embraced priorities including Medicare for All and higher taxes on the wealthy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stevens, a four-term congresswoman representing a district outside Detroit, has positioned herself as the more establishment-aligned Democrat in the race. She has rolled out endorsements from battleground-state senators including Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, while emphasizing her support for Israel and describing herself as a \u201cstaunchly pro-Israel Democrat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McMorrow, who first won election to the Michigan Senate in 2018, has attempted to position herself somewhere between Stevens and El-Sayed politically, pairing criticism of the Democratic establishment with a more pragmatic image. She has also said she would not support Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) remaining the Democratic leader in the Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Polling in the race has suggested a fluid and competitive three-way contest, though recent averages have shown El-Sayed with a slight edge. The <em>RealClearPolitics<\/em> polling <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/senate\/democratic-primary\/2026\/michigan\">average<\/a> currently shows El-Sayed leading the Democratic primary field with 24.3% support, followed by Stevens and McMorrow tied at 19.8%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Individual surveys have painted a more mixed picture. A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitchamber.com\/new-polling-gives-insight-on-the-august-primary-races\/\">Detroit Chamber\/Glengariff Group poll <\/a>conducted in April showed Stevens narrowly ahead, while an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/emersoncollegepolling.com\/michigan-2026-poll-abdul-el-sayed-mallory-mcmorrow-tied-for-lead-in-democratic-senate-primary\/\">Emerson College survey<\/a> found El-Sayed and McMorrow tied for first. A more recent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolitics.com\/docs\/2026\/MIRS_Mitchell_Michigan_May_12_2026.pdf\">MIRS\/Mitchell Research poll <\/a>showed El-Sayed opening a wider lead over both rivals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The eventual Republican nominee is expected to be former Rep. Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost Michigan\u2019s 2024 Senate race to Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). The race also represents a major opportunity for Republicans, who have not won a U.S. Senate race in Michigan since 1994.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4565560\/abdul-el-sayed-physician-license-michigan-senate\/\"><strong>MICHIGAN DEM ABDUL EL-SAYED TOUTS DOCTOR CREDENTIALS DESPITE LIMITED MEDICAL PRACTICE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El-Sayed has also faced criticism during the campaign over comments related to Israel and appearances with controversial political streamer Hasan Piker. At a \u201cJews for Abdul\u201d event earlier this year <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/jewishinsider.com\/2026\/05\/abdul-el-sayed-struggles-israel-right-to-exist-jewish-state\/\">reported<\/a> by <em>Jewish Insider<\/em>, El-Sayed said he struggles with questions about whether Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state, arguing the question raises broader concerns about how a Jewish state is defined.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Separately, <em>Politico<\/em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/05\/12\/abdul-el-sayed-doctor-physician-00916389\"> <\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/05\/12\/abdul-el-sayed-doctor-physician-00916389\">previously reported<\/a> that El-Sayed, who frequently highlights his medical background on the campaign trail, does not appear to have ever held a physician\u2019s license in either Michigan or New York despite often referring to himself as a doctor. El-Sayed graduated from Columbia University\u2019s medical school and later earned a doctorate in public health from Oxford University.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EXCLUSIVE \u2014 Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed\u2019s former political action committee spent only about 13% of the money it raised directly supporting candidates and ballot initiatives, according to campaign finance records reviewed by the Washington Examiner, while large sums instead went to consultants tied to his book and podcast projects. The records show Southpaw<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2608179,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26148711119831.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2608178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26148711119831.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608178","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608178"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608178\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608179"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}