But the race is being called a loss not just for Malinowski but also for the influential pro-Israel organisation that opposed him: the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). In recent years, Malinowski, a former Congress member, has offered only mild criticism of Washington's unconditional support for Israel, suggesting conditions could be placed on US aid. That, however, was enough to trigger an onslaught of targeted attack advertisements from the United Democracy Project (UDP), a super PAC linked to AIPAC.
A super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has made its first major venture into the United States midterm elections. But this time around, the pro-Israel lobby group is not targeting a progressive candidate pushing to reset US-Israel policy, but a so-called moderate Democrat who tepidly questioned Washington's unconditional military support amid the genocidal war on Gaza.
In 2022, AIPAC's PAC spent $2.1 million supporting Foushee, with Democratic Majority for Israel chipping in an additional $300,000 to back the Democrat. They sought to defeat Allam, who has been outspoken in support of Palestinian rights, and who was the first Muslim woman elected to public office in the state. This funding, as well as a $1 million injection from the PAC funded by crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried for Foushee, made the race the most expensive Democratic congressional primary in state history. Foushee ultimately won by nine points over Allam in 2022, with 46 percent of the vote.
Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts made a surprising announcement last month: The moderate Democrat said he would no longer accept donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Spurning AIPAC was not, on its face, shocking. In the more than two years since Israel's onslaught in Gaza began, numerous members of Congress have pledged not to accept money from the lobby, all from the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
93 out of 100 U.S. senators were taking money from a group that represents a foreign government and foreign interests in order to operate our government on behalf of someone else. And they all work here, in this building. A narrator then adds, This is Representative Ro Khanna from California, and he does not take AIPAC money according to the website Track AIPAC. Here's what he had to say.
Justice Democrats - the influential left-wing PAC known for helping Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives oust Democratic incumbents - is backing a primary challenge to Democrat Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a four-term congressman representing a staunchly Democratic Los Angeles district. The group endorsed Angela Gonzales-Torres on Thursday, characterizing the 30-year-old Highland Park resident as a fighter willing to take on not just the Trump administration, but also corporate interests in the Democratic establishment.
I've been very pro-Israel and I've been very defensive of their right to defend themself. But I have absolutely no skin whatsoever in defending any lobbyist group, including AIPAC, so I would love to know what they do to get the loyalty of politicians. Because I will say, I have had multiple, multiple reach-outs to me, both from friends and from connected people in D.C., begging me to go to Israel with them, and I have said no every time, Kelly told Greene.