In recent years, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has significantly increased its spending on American elections, becoming a key financier in congressional races nationwide. Since AIPAC’s initial election involvement, its expenditures have more than doubled, from $29.3 million to $67.2 million, largely focusing on Democratic primaries.
AIPAC’s current major test is the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, where it allocated over $30 million to support Representative Haley Stevens. Her opponent, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, has criticized her candidacy based on her relationship with AIPAC. Dr. El-Sayed’s campaign has been openly critical of Israel.
This shift in AIPAC’s strategy reflects its concern over rising anti-Israel sentiment among Democrats. Traditionally, AIPAC lobbied for bipartisan support in Congress for Israel. However, the intensified focus on election spending underscores how important the issue of Israel has become in U.S. politics.
In 2022, AIPAC established the super PAC United Democracy Project. This group has outspent other special interest PACs in recent federal elections, highlighting its newly adopted political focus. Despite AIPAC’s ads rarely mentioning Israel, their financial influence ensures that the topic remains prominent in political discourse.
AIPAC primarily channels its political spending through Democratic primaries, rarely participating in general elections, to maintain its bipartisan approach. According to Patrick Dorton, spokesperson for United Democracy Project, the committee’s goal is to elect a bipartisan majority that supports Israel.
Interestingly, only a small percentage of campaign ads funded by AIPAC mention Israel directly. Instead, most of these ads address broader voter priorities like abortion rights and the economy. This tactic can obscure AIPAC’s direct involvement in campaigns, but ultimately it highlights who is bankrolling the messages.
In the past three election cycles, AIPAC has influenced the election of 15 members of Congress who align with its priorities. AIPAC’s most notable expenditure in 2022 supported Representative Haley Stevens, who successfully defeated a progressive incumbent. However, not all AIPAC-backed efforts succeed.
In several instances, AIPAC has opposed candidates who challenge U.S. support for Israel, including Representative Jamaal Bowman and Representative Cori Bush. It has also contested Republican primary candidates critical of Israel, such as Representative Thomas Massie.
An analysis shows that AIPAC-affiliated groups have varying levels of success in supporting candidates. For instance, in 2022, AIPAC’s spending failed to prevent Summer Lee from winning a primary in Pennsylvania despite a significant investment.
Additionally, AIPAC’s influence extends through smaller super PACs, such as Elect Chicago Women and Voters for Responsive Government, enhancing its reach without overtly revealing its involvement.
The Michigan Senate race marks AIPAC’s entry into Senate contests, reflecting its expedited growth in politics. With substantial cash reserves, the group plans to further its influence across future races.