By Alexandra Harper 
George Soros and Howard Schultz have an indirect political connection through American Bridge 21st Century. The organization has received financial support from Soros and filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Schultz in 2019. However, publicly available records do not confirm that the two men share a personal friendship, family relationship, or business partnership.
There is an important difference between donating money to an organization and being involved in its actions. While Soros contributed to American Bridge, the complaint against Schultz was filed by American Bridge and Bradley Beychok, not by Soros himself. The FEC later dismissed the complaint in 2021.
Who Are George Soros and Howard Schultz?
Howard Schultz’s Journey With Starbucks
Howard Schultz is widely recognized for his role in growing Starbucks into an international coffeehouse business. He joined the company in 1982 as director of retail operations and marketing. During a trip to Italy in 1983, he became interested in the country’s espresso-bar culture and saw an opportunity to introduce a similar concept to American customers.
Schultz later launched his own coffee business, Il Giornale. In 1987, the company acquired Starbucks’ assets with help from local investors and adopted the Starbucks name. Under Schultz’s leadership, the business expanded and became a familiar brand across the world.
It is worth noting that Starbucks existed before Schultz joined the company. Its first store opened in 1971, while Schultz became involved more than a decade later. His main contribution was developing the business model and expanding its reach.
Over the years, Schultz served as Starbucks’ CEO during several different periods. In September 2023, he left the company’s board after his final term as interim CEO and took on the role of chairman emeritus.
George Soros’s Background in Finance and Giving
George Soros made his fortune through financial investments and later became a major figure in international philanthropy. His biography from the Open Society Foundations states that he was born in Hungary in 1930, studied at the London School of Economics, and moved to the United States in 1956. He established his own hedge fund in 1970.
Soros began his philanthropic work in 1979 by providing scholarships to Black South Africans living under apartheid. His efforts later developed into the Open Society Foundations, a network that supports projects focused on human rights, equality, justice, and democratic values.
His work in finance and philanthropy provides useful background to his public activities. However, his connection to Schultz in this case relates to political donations and the work of a committee that received his financial support.
The Role of American Bridge 21st Century
American Bridge 21st Century is a Democratic-aligned political organization that conducts opposition research. Its work includes collecting information about political opponents for use in election campaigns and public discussions.
The Center for Public Integrity identified Soros as one of the significant donors to American Bridge in its reporting on the organization’s fundraising in 2016. Federal Election Commission records also show a contribution from Soros in 2017, demonstrating that his financial support came before the dispute involving Schultz.
The connection between the two men became more noticeable in 2019, when Schultz was considering an independent presidential campaign. American Bridge filed a complaint with the FEC, arguing that his activities may have triggered requirements to register as a candidate and disclose certain campaign expenses.
This provides a documented link between Soros and Schultz through a political organization. However, it does not establish that Soros personally instructed American Bridge to file the complaint or took part in the decision. Nor does it show that Soros and Schultz worked together.
Why Schultz’s Possible Presidential Run Attracted Attention
On January 27, 2019, Schultz appeared on CBS’s 60 Minutes and announced that he was seriously considering running for president as an independent candidate.
His potential campaign attracted attention because he was considering a path outside the Democratic and Republican primary systems. Some Democratic politicians and supporters worried that an independent run could draw votes away from their eventual nominee.
This concern was based on the possibility that Schultz might divide voters who opposed President Donald Trump, potentially improving Trump’s chances of winning another term. However, these were political predictions rather than confirmed election outcomes.
Schultz eventually announced on September 6, 2019, that he would not run for president. ABC News reported that his decision involved concerns about the political climate, the possibility of affecting a close general election, and health problems that had interrupted his plans.
As a result, the proposed independent campaign never moved forward as a formal presidential bid.
Understanding the Election Complaint Against Schultz
What American Bridge Claimed
On February 7, 2019, American Bridge filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission. The case was registered as Matter Under Review 7567, also known as MUR 7567.
The complaint questioned whether Schultz had gone beyond the early stages of exploring a presidential campaign. It argued that his activities may have required him to register as a candidate and report relevant spending under federal campaign finance law.
The FEC general counsel’s report discussed activities such as hiring political consultants, conducting opinion polls, and preparing for possible advertising.
These claims concerned potential violations of election rules. They were allegations made in a complaint, not proof that Schultz had broken the law.
The main issue was whether Schultz was still considering a campaign or had already taken steps that legally made him a presidential candidate.
Federal election rules allow people to explore the possibility of running for office before officially launching a campaign. This process can involve polling, travel, meetings, and discussions with advisers. Whether these activities cross the legal threshold depends on the details of each case.
For this reason, spending money while considering a presidential run does not automatically mean that someone has violated campaign finance law.
How the FEC Resolved the Case
On November 9, 2021, the Federal Election Commission issued a certification recording two unsuccessful 3-3 votes on proposed motions concerning the case. The commissioners later voted unanimously, 6-0, to dismiss the complaint and close the matter.
This decision is central to understanding the dispute. Although American Bridge raised questions about Schultz’s activities, the case ended without an FEC finding that he had violated federal campaign finance rules.
The commissioners did not necessarily share the same reasoning for dismissing the complaint. Three commissioners issued a separate statement explaining that they believed the available evidence did not show that Schultz’s spending had gone beyond activities permitted while exploring a possible campaign.
This distinction is important. A unanimous vote to dismiss a complaint does not mean that every commissioner agreed on every legal question involved.
The final decision also puts the original allegations into context. The complaint was reviewed by the federal agency responsible for enforcing campaign finance rules, and the matter was ultimately closed.
What Does the Evidence Actually Show?
The publicly available information supports three clear conclusions.
- George Soros financially supported American Bridge. Records show that he contributed to the political organization before the Schultz complaint was filed.
- American Bridge challenged Schultz’s campaign-related activities. In 2019, the organization questioned whether he should have registered as a presidential candidate and reported his spending.
- The FEC dismissed the complaint. In November 2021, the commission voted 6-0 to close the case.
Together, these facts establish an indirect political connection between Soros and Schultz. They do not prove that Soros personally directed the complaint or was involved in the organization’s decision-making.
There is also no established business partnership between the two men in the records discussed here. A claim of that kind would require evidence of a shared company, commercial agreement, or another formal business arrangement.
Likewise, the available information does not establish a personal friendship between them. That does not prove they have never met or spoken. It simply means the sources considered here do not confirm such a relationship.
Final Verdict
George Soros and Howard Schultz are connected through political fundraising and the activities of American Bridge 21st Century. Soros donated to the organization, and the organization later filed an election complaint against Schultz while he was considering an independent presidential campaign.
The FEC dismissed the complaint in 2021, and the case did not result in a finding that Schultz had violated federal campaign finance law.
The most accurate way to describe their connection is as an indirect political link through an organization that received financial support from Soros. The available records do not establish a direct personal relationship, a business partnership, or Soros’s personal involvement in filing the complaint.
Separating the donation, the complaint, and the final decision helps readers understand what happened without drawing conclusions that the evidence does not support.