Children's YouTube educator Rachel Griffin Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, has come under fire after a federal campaign finance filing revealed she donated $3,000 to the Michigan Senate campaign of Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat who has called for an arms embargo against Israel and accused the country of genocide. The donation, disclosed in a Federal Election Commission 48-hour notice dated July 19, has intensified political debate ahead of the state's Aug. 4 primary.

National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Samantha Cantrell seized on the contribution, warning parents about both figures. In comments reported by The New York Post, Cantrell said: «Abdul El-Sayed and Ms. Rachel are one and the same, forcing their socialist, they/them, anti-America agenda on our children. Parents should be worried when they head to the ballot box.» The filing did not specify whether the payment was a contribution or a loan.

El-Sayed, who is backed by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has been a vocal critic of Israeli policy. During a July appearance on CNN's «Inside Politics Sunday,» he said Israel is «certainly a rogue state» and accused it of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has consistently rejected such allegations, maintaining that its military targets Hamas and takes steps to limit civilian casualties. El-Sayed also held rallies in April with far-left streamer Hasan Piker, who previously made controversial remarks about the September 11 attacks, though El-Sayed distanced himself from those comments.

Accurso, whose YouTube channel boasts more than 20 million subscribers, has kept her advocacy on Gaza largely separate from her children's programming. In a PBS NewsHour interview, she defended speaking out about Palestinian children while rejecting accusations of anti-Israel messaging. «I think it's sad to take someone's dedication and love for all children and try and make that wrong,» she said. The YouTuber has also been active on immigration issues. She told NBC News in March that she was working with lawyers and activists to close the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas, accusing the facility of neglect and child abuse. CoreCivic, the facility's operator, disputed those allegations, stating that it provides families with «safe, humane and compassionate care.»

Beyond the El-Sayed campaign, Accurso has donated to other progressive candidates. According to the New York Post, she gave $3,500 each to Brad Lander and Darializa Avila Chevalier, two congressional candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani who defeated Democratic incumbents in June. Her husband, Aron Accurso, also donated $1,500 to Chevalier, FEC records show.

The Aug. 4 primary pits El-Sayed against Representative Haley Stevens, a moderate Democrat. The pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC has spent nearly $30 million supporting Stevens, according to The Associated Press, making the race one of the most expensive and closely watched primary contests in the country. Fox News Digital reached out to both El-Sayed and Accurso for comment but did not immediately receive a response.