With swollen war chests, AIPAC-backed pro-Israel candidates are winning primaries

WASHINGTON – A key pro-Israel group is spending big this year to elect people to Congress who share its views, buoyed by a fundraising boost that began in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

The United Democracy Project, a super PAC that can raise unlimited amounts of money, spent $3.3 million in April on a race in Maryland and another $1.2 million on a race in Indiana. Both of its candidates won.

The super PAC is closely aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, more commonly known as AIPAC, which supports both Republican and Democratic pro-Israel candidates.

“In the aftermath of the barbaric Hamas attack on Israel, our activists understand – more than ever – the vital importance of American solidarity with the Jewish state,” AIPAC spokesperson Marshall Wittmann said. “The voice of pro-Israel America will be heard in 2024.”

More: What is AIPAC? How the group uses funding to support the Israel-US relationship

AIPAC faves prevail in primaries

In Maryland, state senator Sarah Elfreth prevailed against former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and 20 other candidates in a crowded Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District.

Dunn and Elfreth did not publicly clash on Israel policy, and Dunn reportedly submitted a position paper to AIPAC indicating his support for Israel. But Dunn made GOP donors to pro-Israel groups a central part of his attacks on Elfreth, prompting push-back from the super PAC.

In Indiana’s 8th Congressional District, the super PAC helped Republican State Sen. Mark Messmer beat former Rep. John Hostettler, who pro-Israel groups say has “trafficked antisemitic conspiracy theories.”

In both cases, the primaries have effectively won the candidates their elections. Maryland's 3rd Congressional District is solidly Democratic, and Indiana's 8th is solidly Republican.

Pro-Israel fundraising up since October

This level of pro-Israel campaign spending is new. Formerly focused on lobbying on Capitol Hill, AIPAC started its main PAC in December 2021. The United Democracy Project started during the 2022 congressional election cycle and has quickly become a major player.

Both have seen significant fundraising boosts since October, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis and taking around 240 hostages into Gaza, prompting Israel's ongoing military campaign there.

The United Democracy Project raised $35.5 million in the six-month period that included October, compared with $8.8 million in the previous six months. The super PAC spent $10.4 million in February and $5.3 million in April.

AIPAC’s PAC primarily helps donors connect with endorsed candidates. In the seven months that started in October, AIPAC PAC spent a total of $22.7 million, compared to $10 million in the seven months prior to the attack.

Israel-Hamas war divides Congress

Israel responded to Hamas’ attack with a bombing campaign that has ravaged Gaza in the nearly eight months since. An estimated 35,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war, according to the territory's Gaza-run health ministry. It has also sparked an ongoing humanitarian crisis in which officials say hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are facing “catastrophic hunger.”

The conflict has had deep repercussions in American politics over the U.S. role in supporting its ally’s pursuit of Hamas.

Divisions over Israel policy have been particularly acute among Democrats. President Joe Biden has largely been a steadfast supporter of Israel throughout the conflict, prompting protests around the country and on college campuses. Progressives in Congress and in activist groups have called for him to restrict offensive aid to Israel.

More: House GOP passes bill to force Biden to send bombs to Israel, testing Democratic unity

Last year, Biden asked Congress to approve tens of billions of dollars in additional funding for Israel, Ukraine and allies in the Pacific.

Republicans have largely supported Israel, but many – including former President Donald Trump – opposed the Ukraine funding in the package. It passed the Senate in February, but for months it was unclear whether House lawmakers would advance it.

Finally, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., got Trump and some of the GOP detractors on board by changing a portion of the funding to Ukraine to a loan. The $95 billion package passed both chambers and was signed into law in April.

More: Schumer in talks with Johnson to invite Netanyahu to speak to Congress

Future races will target the progressive 'Squad'

Going forward, AIPAC says it will support Democratic opponents running in two primaries against members of the progressive “Squad” who have vocally criticized Israel’s conflict in Gaza: Reps. Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri.

Bowman is a second-term Congressman facing a primary challenge on June 25 from George Latimer, the Westchester County executive. Bush, who represents St. Louis, will be up against St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell on Aug. 6.

Both Bowman and Bush were early supporters of a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and have been vocal critics of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. They are backed by Justice Democrats, a PAC that criticizes U.S. aid to Israel.

So far this cycle, AIPAC's PAC has facilitated $1.5 million in donations to Latimer and $830,000 to Bell, according to records from the Federal Election Commission. In April alone, AIPAC gave $204,000 to Latimer and $275,000 to Bell.

The AIPAC money dwarfs contributions to incumbents Bowman and Bush.

Justice Democrats has raised $238,000 total for Bowman and Bush, according to spokesman Usamah Andrabi. The PAC spent another $165,000 so far for independent spending similar to what a super PAC would do, but he said it will be hard to compete with the United Democracy Project.

“AIPAC targets our members because our members are willing to criticize the Israeli government and Benjamin Netanyahu and are willing to say that Palestinian rights matter,” Andrabi said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pro-Israel candidates are winning campaigns with increased fundraising