Michigan Faculty Donations Heavily Favor El-Sayed in Senate Race
In Michigan’s Senate race, El-Sayed received 95% of faculty donations. The report counted 188 contributions from 49 professors totaling $39,965.44 for his campaign.
The analysis used FEC records through Sept. 30 and counted Michigan donors who identified themselves as professors; out-of-state faculty were excluded. It found 188 contributions from 49 professors to El-Sayed, totaling $39,965.44, versus six professors giving $2,149.49 to Rogers.
Nearly half of Rogers's total came from Michael Witt, a retired University of Michigan-Flint business professor and attorney. Witt described himself as a long-standing Rogers backer, praised Rogers's FBI experience and policy focus, and said some Republican faculty may avoid political activity or fear retaliation.
The donation gap may shape how faculty political giving is perceived in Michigan, potentially fueling claims about campus ideological imbalance. It could affect professors who fear scrutiny or retaliation for donations, and may influence how voters and donors view the Senate candidates' academic support. Because the sample is limited to self-identified Michigan professors, its broader social impact may be modest and largely symbolic.