Israel Aid Critics Win Major Races as AIPAC Faces Setback
Democrats who have criticized U.S. military support for Israel won Senate races in Michigan and Maine on November 3, delivering setbacks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its allies. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers after AIPAC’s United Democracy Project spent heavily against him in the Democratic primary. El-Sayed becomes the first Muslim elected to the Senate. In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican Senator Susan Collins, whom AIPAC’s political committee had supported.
The Michigan spending figures compiled for the race put UDP’s primary activity at about $30.6 million: roughly $20.1 million opposing El-Sayed and $10.5 million backing his rival, Representative Haley Stevens. The figures were still subject to reconciliation with federal campaign-finance records. El-Sayed also campaigned on health care, living costs and corporate influence, so the result does not establish how much voters were motivated by his Israel position.
AIPAC and UDP spent about $84 million in this election cycle, targeting candidates who pledged to cut off aid to Israel, among others. Nearly two-thirds of that spending went toward candidates who lost, while several candidates critical of Israel’s military campaign won. In Illinois, Daniel Biss won his House race with 75 percent of the vote after facing more than $7 million in AIPAC spending, much of it focused on his opposition to the Iran war.
The results followed AIPAC’s October announcement that it would stop directly backing campaigns or making endorsements. The group has continued supporting candidates through affiliated organizations. Its influence was not uniformly diminished: it and allied groups succeeded in several primary contests, including races involving Cori Bush in Missouri and Thomas Massie in Kentucky. The mixed results leave questions about how effectively the group can shape future elections and Democratic positions on Israel.
Voters Reject AIPAC Spending and Unconditional Israel Aid
The election delivered a clear warning to AIPAC: its millions did not stop candidates critical of U.S. military aid to Israel from winning. Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan after AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC spent about $30.6 million in the Democratic primary, including roughly $20.1 million opposing him. El-Sayed becomes the first Muslim elected to the Senate.
Democrats also won the Senate race in Maine, where Troy Jackson defeated Senator Susan Collins, a candidate supported by AIPAC’s political committee. In Illinois, Daniel Biss won his House race with 75 percent of the vote despite more than $7 million in AIPAC spending. His victory came as he opposed the Iran war, which the spending targeted.
AIPAC and its allies put about $84 million into the election cycle, with nearly two-thirds of that money going toward candidates who lost. The results show that opposing unconditional military assistance to Israel is not necessarily an electoral liability, even in politically competitive states. El-Sayed also stressed medical care, household expenses and corporate power, so voters’ motives cannot be reduced to a single issue.
AIPAC’s influence remains real: the group and its allies prevailed in several primary contests, and its October decision to stop making direct endorsements has not ended its political spending. But the victories for candidates seeking limits on aid expose the cost of trying to use outside money to shut down debate over U.S. policy. The election raises fresh questions about whether the traditional bipartisan backing for Israel can hold as more Democrats challenge it.
AIPAC Setbacks Put Israel Policy Debate in Focus
Democratic candidates who criticized U.S. military assistance to Israel scored major victories on November 3, including Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate win and Troy Jackson’s victory over Senator Susan Collins in Maine. El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers after AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC mounted a costly effort to stop him in the Democratic primary.
The results raise questions about the durability of bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. AIPAC and allied groups spent about $84 million during the election cycle, and nearly two-thirds of that money went toward candidates who lost. In Illinois, Daniel Biss won 75 percent of the vote after AIPAC spent more than $7 million in a race where its attacks focused in part on his opposition to the Iran war.
But the races do not establish that voters chose candidates because of their Israel positions. El-Sayed also campaigned on health care, living costs and corporate influence, while the candidates’ views on assistance vary, from opposing all aid to seeking limits on weapons transfers. AIPAC and its allies also won several primary contests, demonstrating that outside spending can still matter in individual races.
AIPAC announced in October that it would no longer directly support campaigns or issue endorsements, while continuing to fund candidates through affiliated groups. The victories of critics of U.S. policy toward Israel may increase pressure on lawmakers to reconsider military assistance, even as the results leave the broader strategic relationship and the electorate’s priorities contested.
Reported by Newsweek, Mother Jones.
