Democratic Candidates Accept Major Contributions from Epstein-Linked Billionaire After Denouncing ‘Epstein Class’ and MAGA

Two high-profile Democratic candidates accepted significant campaign support from LinkedIn co-founder and major Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman, a billionaire with documented social ties to Jeffrey Epstein, even as they publicly attacked Republicans and “MAGA” as the so-called “Epstein class.”

Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, benefited from $11.5 million that Hoffman directed to the Lone Star Rising super PAC aligned with his campaign. Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, seeking re-election, received the maximum legal direct contribution of $7,000 from Hoffman.

Both candidates had previously used sharp rhetoric against what they described as an elite “Epstein class.” Talarico declared in a recent interview that “The Epstein Class has no place in Texas.” Ossoff earlier this year stated that “MAGA […] is the Epstein class, ruling our country.” The contributions drew scrutiny after the donations became public, highlighting the contrast between the candidates’ public messaging and their fundraising.

Hoffman’s association with Epstein has been detailed in documents and his own statements. Records show he met Epstein as early as 2013, after Epstein’s 2008 conviction in Florida, spent time at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse, and planned visits to Epstein properties including the New Mexico ranch and Little St. James island. In one documented exchange, Hoffman sent Epstein ice cream with a note referencing “the girls.” Hoffman has publicly expressed regret, telling interviewers that by participating in any fundraising activity involving Epstein he “helped to repair his reputation and perpetuate injustice.” No criminal charges have been filed against Hoffman related to Epstein.

The contributions fit a broader pattern of Hoffman’s extensive financial support for Democratic candidates and causes. Federal records and prior reporting document tens of millions of dollars from Hoffman and aligned entities flowing to Democratic campaigns, committees, and dark-money groups over multiple cycles. A December Justice Department letter previously highlighted Hoffman’s influence network in connection with other Democratic senators.

Republican critics seized on the donations as evidence of selective outrage. They argued that Democratic candidates who weaponize Epstein associations against political opponents continue to accept large sums from donors with their own documented connections to the late financier. One GOP operative described the pattern as Democrats “vilify[ing] corporate billionaires in one breath and accept[ing] their cash in the next.”

Neither the Talarico nor Ossoff campaigns issued detailed public responses addressing the specific contributions in the immediate aftermath of the reports. The episode adds to ongoing debates over the intersection of big-money Democratic fundraising and the political use of the Epstein files, which have featured prominently in 2026 midterm messaging on both sides.

As more campaign finance records become available and additional Epstein-related documents continue to surface, the donations underscore the challenges candidates face when rhetorical attacks on elite networks collide with the realities of high-dollar political fundraising.