Democratic candidates who strongly criticized Israel’s policies won key races in the US midterms, a reversal of longstanding assumptions that such positions would doom their chances. Abdul El-Sayed, a 34-year-old in his first run for elected office, defeated Republican Mike Rogers by seven points in Michigan’s Senate race, despite being the target of a nearly $30m campaign by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), its biggest investment ever in a single race.
Victories for Pro-Palestine Candidates
El-Sayed ran on an affordability platform and championed Medicare for All, but his uncompromising criticism of Israel was widely seen as a liability. His primary rival, Haley Stevens, and Rogers both shaped their campaigns around the assumption that his Israel politics would cost him. In the end, his strong criticism may have helped put him and other Democrats over the top.
Six candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America won Congressional races in bright-blue districts, foregrounding their opponents’ links to Aipac and refusing to take its funds. In Colorado, Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old lawyer, beat 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette, who was backed by a Super Pac with Aipac links. In New York, Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Adriano Espaillat, who also had help from a Super Pac tied to the group.
Nuanced Positions and Endorsements
In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown, the winner, and Republican John Husted both got help from pro-Israel organizations, but with different politics. The liberal Zionist J Street, which backed Brown, is critical of Israeli government policies and supports a two-state solution, while Aipac stood with Husted. In Georgia, Jewish Democratic senator Jon Ossoff expressed commitment to Israel’s security and to valuing “the lives of innocent Palestinians,” voting for some military aid while opposing certain weapons transfers.
In New York, Brad Lander launched his primary campaign vowing he would not be “doing Aipac’s bidding” and challenged incumbent Dan Goldman to call the Gaza war genocide and support the Block the Bombs Act. Lander quit the DSA after 30 years when it publicized a pro-Hamas rally the day after the Hamas-led massacre on 7 October 2023.
Impact on US-Israel Relations
These victories reflect a broader cooling of American sentiment toward Israel. Before election day, Donald Trump said he’d cease sending $4bn annually in aid to Israel. While Israel’s military continues actions the UN calls crimes against humanity in occupied territories, foreign policy ranked low in voter polls. Trump claimed a 99% approval rating in Israel, though Pew found his numbers were not close.
