Ocasio-Cortez Transfers $1 Million to El-Sayed in Left-Wing Push

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has transferred $1 million to support Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a powerful move by the left to boost the rising politician.

Ocasio-Cortez, who has emerged as a leading figure of the left since her upset congressional victory in 2018, confirmed the donation in a statement on Friday and at an event in Michigan. The transfer was first reported by The New York Times.

The congresswoman pointed to political attacks against El-Sayed, most of which have focused on his Muslim faith, Egyptian heritage and support for Palestine.

"I will not wake up on November 4 and wish I had done more to fight back against the smears against Abdul. I am putting in everything I can," Ocasio-Cortez said in the statement, referring to the congressional midterm elections on November 3.

Speaking at an event in the Detroit area, she added that she was transferring money from her own campaign to show that "reinforcements are coming."

"And the only reason I am doing it is because I see the energy of every single one of you who is working to rise up," she said.

The move comes as Ocasio-Cortez campaigns for El-Sayed in Michigan, joining him on a bus tour through the Republican-leaning Upper Peninsula before holding three events on Friday in Detroit, the state's largest city.

El-Sayed's populist, progressive message has drawn voters in the state, where he currently leads Republican candidate Mike Rogers by 2.6 percentage points, according to Real Clear Politics' average of quality polls.

The backing from Ocasio-Cortez, who is weighing a potential 2028 presidential run, also signals a broader left-wing effort to court voters who once supported Trump but have turned away. The two emphasized economic issues during their campaign swing through the Midwest state.

Trump's approval ratings are at a career low ahead of the midterm elections. A series of recent polls has shown widespread public dissatisfaction with Trump's handling of the U.S. economy and the broader fallout from the U.S.-Israel war targeting Iran.

Recent polls also show a desire for more sweeping change in the U.S. government, signaling potential opportunities for candidates running outside the two major parties.

An AP-NORC poll released this week found that 80% of respondents supported "complete and total change" or "significant change" in how the country is run.

Speaking alongside Ocasio-Cortez on Friday, progressive Rep. Ayanna Pressley called on the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which raises money and allocates resources to Senate candidates, to make "equitable investment in progressive and diverse candidates" such as El-Sayed, Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon and Mississippi Senate candidate Scott Colom.

El-Sayed, who received early backing from progressive Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, has recently also been embraced by some more moderate Democrats, including former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Sanders donated $250,000 to El-Sayed's campaign, according to CNN.

Heavy spending

The new financial support from Ocasio-Cortez, transferred to the Abdul Fund for Michigan Victory, comes as the Michigan Senate race has become one of the most expensive in state history, surpassing $268 million as of October 15, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Meanwhile, El-Sayed outraised Rogers between July 1 and September 30, bringing in $30.6 million compared with Rogers' $9.6 million. However, as of September 30, Rogers' campaign had more cash on hand, with $6.5 million compared with El-Sayed's $3.8 million.

Michigan is among the key Senate races that could determine control of the chamber during the final two years of U.S. President Donald Trump's term.

Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the 100-member body.