The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) has funnelled $13.7m through Super Pacs into Tuesday's Illinois primaries, testing whether its money has become so toxic that it must hide its origins.
Four Democratic congressional primaries in and around Chicago have attracted at least $13.7m from Aipac and affiliated political action committees, according to an investigation by WBEZ. The funds were channelled through two Super Pacs with anodyne names—Elect Chicago Women and Affordable Chicago Now—that do not mention Israel once in their adverts.
Federal Election Commission records analysed by the American Prospect show 237 donors who previously gave to Aipac or its United Democracy Project Super Pac contributed to candidates Donna Miller, Melissa Bean and Laura Fine. Forty-four gave to all three, several on the same date for identical amounts. The Super Pacs backing them were incorporated in January and their donors will not be disclosed until around election day.
Aipac was founded in 1954 and has long been one of Washington's most formidable lobbying forces. In 2022 it launched the United Democracy Project to intervene in Democratic primaries, and has declared a $96m war chest for the 2026 midterms. However, Democratic voters now sympathise more with Palestinians than Israelis, according to polls, making Aipac's brand a liability in urban, educated districts.
A preview came in February's New Jersey special election, where Aipac spent $2m attacking moderate Tom Malinowski, only to hand the race to a progressive less friendly to its positions. In Illinois's ninth district, Aipac-aligned groups are attacking Daniel Biss, who supports Israel but suggests aid should have strings attached, risking driving voters to Palestinian American progressive Kat Abughazaleh.
