Sri Taneder, a billionaire Democrat from Michigan originally from India, has been contemplating a run as a Republican, according to various consultants who spoke with Intercept. On Monday, he submitted seven articles criticizing President Trump.
During his unsuccessful bid for governor in 2018, he presented himself as the “financially savvy Bernie Sanders.” However, some consultants noted that before launching his recent campaign, he was open to the idea of running as an independent or Republican.
🚨 Democrat Sri Taneder of Michigan has submitted seven articles targeting President Trump. pic.twitter.com/ouygf5qilw
– Daily Caller (@dailycaller) April 28, 2025
Consultants Adrian Hemond and Dan McMaster mentioned they met with Taneder, where the question of party affiliation came up. Hemond stated, “He told me he didn’t care. He believes he has the best chance to win on either side.”
They reportedly found him quite ambiguous on various issues, particularly abortion. Hemond mentioned, “His stance seemed primarily strategic for his gubernatorial run.” Some in the consultant circle described Taneder’s political identity as confusing, suggesting he was at odds with his own expressed views.
Republican consultant Dan McMaster remarked on Taneder’s declared pro-life stance, saying it was amusing given his previous claims. Joe Disano, who heads Disano Strategies, concluded after meeting Taneder twice that he seemed to favor pharma interests.
Taneder, however, rejected claims of being indecisive, asserting, “I’m 100% pro-choice. My voting record proves it.” He pointed to a link showcasing his score on Planned Parenthood’s council scorecard.
While he has praised Bernie Sanders and other progressive figures publicly, some consultants, like Disano, alleged that Taneder was fundamentally against the causes Bernie champions. Disano noted, “My main takeaway is that he doesn’t really support progressive views, despite claiming to admire them.”
In an interview, Taneder stated, “I loved Bernie and his ideas—I even met him.” Disano claimed to have parted ways with Taneder due to feeling that he was not straightforward enough, while Taneder responded that he had actually let the consultant go for overcharging him.
Taneder caught some heat back in 2016 for appearing supportive of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as videos showed him smiling in the audience at a Rubio rally, despite having previously donated to Hillary Clinton and John McCain. He dismissed any implication that his attendance at those events indicated support for their politics, explaining, “In Iowa, you get access to politicians you wouldn’t normally have. I attended various events to understand the political process better.”
Disano also claimed that Taneder showed an unusual fascination with Rubio.
Democrat Sri Taneder is currently targeting Trump while running in his taxpayer-supported district. pic.twitter.com/0oy1m9omrj
– Daily Caller (@dailycaller) April 29, 2025
Ultimately, Taneder lost the 2018 Democratic primary in the governor’s race, finishing behind current governor Gretchen Whitmer and former public health professor Abdul el-Sayed. He later ran for Congress in Michigan’s 13th District, winning re-election in 2024, and is now facing two significant challengers in 2026.
