The Unknown Donor Axis Behind the Radical Left’s Rise to Power

In past elections, big donors to progressives were generally older, wealthy hippies or successful Hollywood players. Now, our analysis of campaign filings shows a crew of virtually unknown donors stepping in to fund the far left. The emerging group skews younger, is often South Asian or Middle Eastern, and works in fields such as technology and medicine. Many had never given to politics before last year, but they are now donating as much as $1 million each to fund progressive candidates and a new “anti-Aipac” super PAC, reports the Wall Street Journal. One of the major financial players in this election jihad is the contemptuously named American Priorities – more accurate would be “American Subversion.”

Key points (based on The Wall Street Journal investigation, October 10, 2026):

– A new class of wealthy political donors is financing progressive candidates. Some had little or no recorded political giving before 2025 but are now contributing hundreds of thousands — even millions — of dollars.

– An anti-AIPAC super PAC is emerging as a major financial force. American Priorities is directing substantial funding toward progressive candidates critical of Israel and seeking to counter the influence of pro-Israel political spending.

– Abdul El-Sayed is a major beneficiary. American Priorities spent more than $500,000 supporting his Michigan Senate campaign.

– Five of American Priorities’ 12 largest donors also donated to Zohran Mamdani. The report identifies overlapping financial support for Mamdani and the broader progressive movement.

– Two previously unrecorded political donors emerged as million-dollar contributors. Mohammad Waqas gave approximately $1.1 million, while technology investor Omer Hasan contributed approximately $1 million during the 2025–26 cycle.

– A corporation with undisclosed funders contributed $470,000. Delaware-based Fig And Olive Action appears among American Priorities’ largest contributors, but its underlying financial backers were not disclosed.

– George and Alex Soros remain significant financial players. Their Democracy PAC contributed approximately $7 million to progressive causes and committees analyzed by the Journal.

– Saikat Chakrabarti topped the broader progressive donor list at $13.4 million. More than $11 million went to his own congressional campaign committee, which he subsequently converted into a super PAC.

– American Priorities spent more than $1 million helping two Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates win New York congressional primaries. Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier benefited from advertisements emphasizing affordability and Mamdani’s endorsement rather than Israel.

– The emerging donor network differs from traditional Democratic megadonors. The Journal describes a younger group, frequently working in technology and medicine, alongside established wealthy Democratic contributors.

– Progressive organizations are developing new fundraising strategies. Democratic Socialists of America introduced income-based solidarity dues of 1%, while Justice Democrats is seeking resources to compete against better-funded opponents.

– The financial support extends beyond the progressive movement itself. Democratic establishment organizations are also spending millions to support progressive nominees, including more than $9 million in television advertising spent or reserved to assist California congressional candidate Randy Villegas.

Bottom line: The Journal documents an expanding financial network connecting newly active wealthy donors, anti-AIPAC political spending, established Democratic megadonors, and progressive candidates. Its findings show growing financial coordination and overlapping interests, but do not establish that these donors operate under a single centralized command.

The Crew of Virtually Unknown Donors Powering the Rise of the New Left

Millions of dollars are flowing to help Democratic socialists and other progressives

By: Maggie Severns, Anthony DeBarro and Kara Dapena, Oct. 10, 2026:

Supporters of the progressive left are working to expand their funding as the far left gains momentum.
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In Michigan this year, a new super PAC vowing to fight pro-Israel money chipped in more than half a million dollars to help progressive Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate bid. Its funders: a crew of virtually unknown political donors, many of whom had never given to politics before last year but have since donated up to $1 million each.

In New York, billionaire Alex Soros cut checks directly to progressive politicians, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Those donations are part of the millions of dollars that Soros and his father, George, plan to give to Democratic causes this year.

Collage of Abdul El-Sayed, Bob Brooks, and Randy Villegas.
Abdul El-Sayed, Bob Brooks and Randy Villegas have benefited from super PAC spending in their races. Sarah Rice/Getty Images; Matt Rourke/AP; Mario Tama/Getty Images
And in Philadelphia, nearly a million dollars in TV advertising paid for by outside groups is boosting Democratic socialist Chris Rabb, highlighting his endorsement from New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and his willingness to fight for Medicare for All.

The left flank of the Democratic Party raises and spends only a fraction of what many Republicans and the Democratic establishment do on elections. But as the far left gains momentum, supporters are working to expand their funding.

Progressive candidates in the Journal analysis

Even the Democratic Socialists of America, which is funded exclusively by membership dues and relies largely on volunteers, has been experimenting with raising more money. While introductory dues for DSA members usually start at $10 a month, the organization’s newer option to pay income-based “solidarity dues” set contributions at a much heftier 1% of member’s incomes.

“Give your 1% for the 99%,” the DSA’s website advertises.

Another group that focuses on identifying and helping progressive candidates, Justice Democrats, said its goal is to remain competitive in races where opponents can use funding advantages to sometimes overwhelm progressives with ads.

“We will never have the amount of money that Aipac or crypto have,” said Usamah Andrabi, a spokesman for the group, referring to the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee and a cryptocurrency industry that has spent more than $90 million during the midterms. (Aipac spokeswoman Deryn Sousa said the group “is a membership organization of individual Americans, not an industry.”)

Here is how the progressive movement compares with other big-money counterparts.

The Mamdani Factor

Zohran Mamdani’s election as mayor of New York City last fall sparked a new era of far-left politics and a new generation of political donors, many of them critical of the war in the Middle East and frustrated by Aipac spending to support politicians who back Israel.

In past elections big donors to progressives were generally older, wealthy hippies or successful Hollywood players. The emerging group skews younger, is often South Asian or Middle Eastern, and works in fields such as technology and medicine.

Sathvik Kaliyur, CEO of a fundraising firm called NWF Strategies whose clients have included Mamdani and El-Sayed, said his goal is to make it easier for candidates who don’t come from money to run for office.

Many of the biggest checks are going to a super PAC that aims to be an “anti-Aipac” force, called American Priorities.

Continued…….

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