The results of the Democratic Party primaries in a number of US states and counties showed the success of progressive candidates in crushing rivals who enjoyed huge financial support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee “AIPAC” and its affiliated organizations, in a clear setback to the efforts of the Israeli lobby to influence the election results and the selection of the party’s candidates.
These victories included Senate races in Michigan and Minnesota, and House elections in New York, Illinois, and California, where progressive candidates defeated opponents who benefited from significant spending by pro-Israel groups. The results came amid growing criticism within the Democratic Party of Israeli government policies and the war in Gaza, as well as increasing opposition to lobbying and foreign political spending in elections, according to a report published by Newsweek.
In Michigan, Abdulrahman El-Sayed narrowly defeated AIPAC- backed Representative Haley Stevens, receiving 48.5 percent of the vote to her 47.5 percent. The AIPAC-linked United Democracy Project spent approximately $15 million on the primary, while AIPAC and its allies spent roughly $30 million, according to the Associated Press.
In Minnesota, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan won about 59 percent of the vote against Representative Angie Craig, who received financial support from pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC.
In the House elections, Ayesha Wahab achieved a notable victory in California, defeating Melissa Hernandez, who had received millions of dollars in campaign funding from groups affiliated with AIPAC. Darializa Avila Chevalier also won in New York against veteran Congressman Adriano Españat, who, according to Federal Election Commission records, had received approximately $285,000 from AIPAC in the previous year.
In Illinois, LaShawn Ford secured the Democratic nomination despite the United Democracy Project spending nearly $5 million to support his opponent. Evanston Mayor Daniel Peace also won, despite a nearly $6 million campaign against him led by AIPAC-aligned groups. And in Connecticut, Luke Bronin unseated veteran Congressman John Larson, who had been backed by AIPAC.
These results come amid declining support for Israel within the Democratic Party. An Associated Press-NORC poll in June showed that 58 percent of Democrats believe the United States provides too much support to Israel, compared to 45 percent in January 2024, while 62 percent said U.S. support for the Palestinians is insufficient.
Support for the Israeli government within the Democratic Party has also declined sharply. A Pew poll showed that the percentage of Democrats who view the Israeli government favorably dropped to 16 percent, compared to 35 percent in 2022, while a poll in May showed support for Israel among Democrats falling from 59 percent in 2018 to 22 percent.
These results reveal a growing rift within the Democratic Party regarding the relationship with Israel and the extent of the financial influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups. However, the primary election results alone do not determine the ability of these candidates to win the November elections, especially in the close races that will determine control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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