How Much Influence Does Israel Have Over U.S. Elected Officials?

Bernie Sanders’ 2020 national campaign director Analilia Mejia beat AIPAC-backed candidate Tom Malinowski in NJ’s recent special election

As mid-term season ramps up, important primary races are underway in Texas and Illinois. The midterm elections will potentially reshape the U.S. Congress, making it critical to understand how important the outcomes are for Israel and its powerful slate of U.S. lobbying groups.

“We expect to be involved in dozens of races both in primaries and general elections this cycle,” said Patrick Dorton, a spokesman for AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC, the United Democracy Project (UDP).

According to Track AIPAC, there are currently only 21 members of U.S. Congress who have never accepted money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC, the largest pro-Israel PAC in the US) or other pro-Israel lobby groups. The remaining 514 sitting members have all accepted varying amounts of fundraising money from pro-Israel lobbyists.

With the Illinois primary just two days away, AIPAC has spent more than $1.9 million on ads to replace retiring Rep. Danny Davis with Melissa Conyears-Ervin, the city treasurer of Chicago. She faces over a dozen other candidates in the upcoming primary. And IL Sen. Dick Durbin is retiring after more than 30 years in office, with three top Democratic candidates vying for his seat.

Durbin received more than $2.7 million in pro-Israel donations over his decades in office. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who accepted more than $1.7 million in pro-Israel donations, is vying for his seat along with Rep. Robin Kelly, the recipient of just over $368,000 from Israeli lobbies and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, who has received just over $248,000.

U.S. Democratic Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia are also retiring. Schakowsky has received more than $2.5 billion from Israeli lobbyists while Garcia hasn’t received any and rejects AIPAC. Dozens of Democrats are vying for those seats, with AIPAC playing an increasingly bigger role in candidates’ platforms.

Schakowsky, once a staunch supporter of Israel, has increasingly become critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war in Gaza and recently withdrew her support of Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller to succeed her. Miller has pulled in more than $3.3 million in AIPAC-related donations. “Illinois deserves leaders who put voters first, not AIPAC or out-of-state Trump donors,” said Schakowsky. She endorsed Evanston Mayor Daniel Bliss instead, who has received just over $288,000 in pro-Israel funding.

The Texas Senate primaries have yielded tight races for Democrats and Republicans alike, with AIPAC once again playing a key role. James Talarico, who received just over $23,000 from pro-Israel interests, will face an as yet to be determined Republican challenger. Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, who has accepted more than $2 million from AIPAC and other Israeli interests, is being challenged by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who received just over $53,000 from Israeli lobbyists.

The Republican primary was so close that the two candidates will face a runoff on May 26. Paxton’s success puts President Donald Trump in a sticky position. Trump himself has received more than $230 million from Israeli groups and it was expected he would endorse Israel’s candidate, Cornyn. But Paxton has gained traction within the MAGA movement, and Trump risks alienating his voters by endorsing Cornyn. Talarico’s popularity has been rising with some predicting he may turn one of Texas’s Senate seats blue for the first time in 33 years.

AIPAC and its offshoots began to ramp up spending during the 2022 midterms, shelling out more than $221 million between December of 2021 and January of 2026.

Their strategy has not always paid off though, as was the case in the recent Democratic primary special election in New Jersey. Israeli lobbyists spent more than $378,000 pushing former Rep. Tom Malinowski for a House seat. He was defeated by progressive candidate Analilia Mejia, who has been openly critical of Israel.

To learn if your U.S. representatives better reflect your interests or Israel’s, check Track AIPAC.

Tweet
Share
Pin
Share
0 Shares

8,634 Comments

  2. While exploring online value-based shopping platforms, I found modern everyday deals space – The website delivers good value offerings and useful content for shoppers, making navigation easy, clear, and enjoyable across different categories and pages.

  4. I recently compared several online marketing related platforms before stopping on online growth collection because the design looked organized, balanced, and surprisingly accessible for users casually browsing digital services online today – The site remained responsive throughout my session and the quick loading times added to the professional overall experience noticeably.

  7. While reviewing online lifestyle platforms and idea-sharing websites, I discovered modern idea space – The website offered a fresh collection of useful content, making it easy to explore different sections while enjoying a smooth and engaging browsing experience.

  10. While exploring motivational websites and growth platforms online, I came across smart growth inspiration hub – The website delivers useful ideas and personal development focus, making the browsing experience smooth, positive, and easy to engage with.

  11. For people seeking structured lists of affordable products and money saving tips, it is helpful to explore practical budget list sites that organize deals, offer comparisons, and provide straightforward recommendations for everyday shopping needs across various categories and budgets clearly and efficiently today.

  13. I recently opened several ecommerce websites looking for useful daily products before finding featured online collection where the product arrangement looked cleaner and easier to follow than the chaotic layouts commonly found elsewhere online – The platform felt user friendly and browsing through categories stayed simple, pleasant, and surprisingly relaxing during the session.

  18. While browsing inspirational websites and goal achievement platforms online, I came across daily success hub – The website offered a clean layout with motivating content, making browsing smooth and enjoyable while encouraging frequent visits for fresh inspiration and practical ideas.

  19. During an online browsing session for minimalist ecommerce sites, I found modern shopping favorite guide – The platform delivers a nice store experience with simple design and useful products today, making navigation simple, clear, and easy to follow throughout.

  20. People looking for structured guidance on building better habits can explore growth mindset journal which shares motivational insights and actionable advice – helping users stay focused on personal development while gradually improving discipline, productivity, and overall life direction through consistent and intentional effort over time.

  22. During an online browsing session focused on fashion trends and shopping platforms, I found daily shopping guide – The website design was simple and clean, and the navigation felt seamless, allowing easy access to different sections while keeping the browsing experience enjoyable and smooth overall.

  23. Earlier this morning I was searching through online platforms for practical digital services when I reached efficient traffic options where the presentation looked clean and the content sections seemed easier to follow than many alternatives online today – The website felt informative overall and the modern interface helped browsing remain smooth and convenient for visitors.

  25. During a casual browsing session focused on modern home design websites, I found creative living ideas space – The platform featured stylish ideas and a simple navigation structure, making the browsing experience smooth, easy, and enjoyable across multiple sections.

  26. While exploring online fashion and lifestyle platforms focused on modern styling inspiration, I came across modern style discovery hub – The website presents modern styling ideas and smooth shopping experience for visitors online, making browsing easy, elegant, and enjoyable throughout.

  27. Many digital shoppers value platforms that combine reliability with an enjoyable browsing experience, and a well-known example is Smooth Cart Selection Site – offering a user-friendly shopping environment where visitors can find their favorite products easily while experiencing consistent service quality and a simple flow from browsing to final purchase completion.

  30. I spent time browsing various online catalogs today before discovering reliable petal corner store, and I enjoyed really smooth browsing, with categories appearing organized and a website that felt genuinely user friendly throughout the visit.

  31. While reviewing different online product websites this afternoon, I visited organized solar orchard listing and enjoyed a really pleasant browsing experience, with products arranged thoughtfully and easy to access throughout the visit.

  34. After comparing several ecommerce websites with difficult layouts and excessive promotions, I eventually spent time browsing featured shopping choices because the design looked cleaner and the categories felt easier to understand online – The site appeared well maintained throughout and the comfortable browsing experience made another future visit feel very possible.

  35. During a casual browsing session for discovery content, I found smart explore space – The platform features engaging content and easy browsing flow, making it simple, smooth, and enjoyable to explore different sections.

  36. During a casual search for simple living inspiration platforms, I discovered modern simplicity store – Everything was organized well and the website felt comfortable to browse, making the overall experience smooth, relaxing, and enjoyable today.

  37. After reviewing online resources featuring inspiration and organized browsing material, I came across featured update portal – The browsing experience remained smooth throughout the platform, the categories appeared visually balanced, and the content encouraged visitors to return later for additional ideas and updates.

  40. While reviewing ecommerce experiences, I noticed a site with strong responsiveness and organized structure, and Mystic Meadow goods network offers smooth browsing overall – Pages are fast, content is easy to read, and users can explore products comfortably without confusion or unnecessary complexity in layout design.

  41. During a casual search for inspiration websites, I discovered daily uniqueness guide – The platform features unique items and creative ideas in a simple layout, making browsing simple, structured, and enjoyable for everyday users.

  42. After comparing multiple websites related to ecommerce tools and online services, I eventually explored simple business support where the layout appeared organized logically and the categories felt easier to browse than many competing platforms online currently – Helpful content was available throughout the site and the overall navigation experience stayed reliable and pleasantly smooth during browsing.

  46. While exploring various modern ecommerce platforms focused on usability and clean design, I found a well structured interface that feels easy to navigate, and Frost Lane Emporium hub delivers a smooth browsing experience overall – The layout is minimal and well organized, making it simple for users to browse products comfortably while enjoying fast loading pages and a clutter-free interface.

  47. During a casual search for fashion and lifestyle trend platforms, I found elegant style space – The site offered clean and visually attractive page layouts, making browsing smooth, engaging, and easy while exploring various fashion-inspired sections and ideas.

  48. People exploring online content for inspiration and growth often prefer tools that highlight new discoveries and encourage them to stay curious in their daily routines MindPath Discovery Hub Exploration Inspiration Feed – it delivers fresh content regularly and supports users in developing a habit of learning and discovering meaningful ideas across various subjects

  49. After spending part of the morning browsing different online resources, I eventually found modern shopping website, where the categories looked properly structured and the overall browsing process stayed comfortable, straightforward, and enjoyable throughout the visit.

  50. While searching for artistic inspiration and creative resource websites, I discovered smart artistic inspiration space – The platform offered inspiring creative ideas and helpful resources that created an enjoyable and motivating experience for users browsing online daily.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *