The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has swiftly emerged as a major force in American elections, significantly increasing its financial influence in congressional races nationwide. In less than five years, AIPAC-affiliated political action committees have more than doubled their election spending, jumping from $29.3 million to $67.2 million. Much of this expenditure is concentrated in Democratic primaries, indicating a shift from AIPAC’s traditional bipartisan lobbying focus on federal legislation.
AIPAC’s pivotal moment arrives with the Democratic Senate primary election in Michigan, where the group has invested over $30 million to support Representative Haley Stevens against Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. The Federal Election Commission reports expenditures on ads and outreach aimed at promoting Stevens over El-Sayed, who has criticized Stevens’ pro-Israel stance. This Michigan race highlights AIPAC’s transition from influencing legislation to actively participating in elections.
According to data analyzed by AdImpact, the super PAC formed by AIPAC in 2022, named United Democracy Project, has outspent other special interest groups unaffiliated with political parties in federal elections over the past three cycles. Most of the group’s advertising does not explicitly mention Israel but targets issues such as abortion rights and the economy. AIPAC’s strategic choice to avoid direct references to Israel enables them to obscure their campaign involvement, although their funding often comes to light.
AIPAC supporters formed United Democracy Project in response to increasing campaign costs and the growing number of candidates critical of U.S. support for Israel. Their efforts have intensified following the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, prompting a surge in donations. United Democracy Project has since outspent various super PACs funded by the artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency industries in primary election advertising this year.
Most of AIPAC’s financial resources are directed towards Democratic primaries, reflecting the group’s bipartisan identity. AIPAC has rarely engaged in general elections, avoiding scenarios where they would need to choose between Democrat and Republican candidates. For the 2022, 2024, and 2026 cycles, AIPAC spent $138 million in primary races compared to $4.65 million in general elections.
Patrick Dorton, a spokesperson for United Democracy Project, mentioned that the strategy employed by many super PACs is to create ads centered on top voter issues rather than the specific concerns of the group. This tactic reflects the prioritization of affordability issues over the topic of Israel in most races. Despite the lack of direct references to Israel in their advertising, AIPAC’s campaign spending has brought attention to U.S.-Israel policy.
Tracking spending in past election cycles reveals AIPAC’s success in electing 15 members of Congress considered allies and its significant investment in races this year, notably in Michigan, Illinois, and Maryland. As of this year, AIPAC-affiliated groups have allocated over $67 million. In Michigan alone, United Democracy Project spent over $10 million supporting Stevens and $20 million opposing El-Sayed. Only a PAC campaigning against Tom Steyer’s governor bid in California spent more in a primary race this year.
United Democracy Project’s first expenditure in a Senate contest is in Michigan, and with $80 million in cash reserves, it may not be their last. The group’s approach shifted in 2024, focusing more on opposing candidates critical of Israel. AIPAC began spending in Republican primaries in 2024, targeting those challenging U.S. support for Israel, such as Kentucky’s Thomas Massie and Virginia’s Bob Good.
AIPAC’s record shows successes and failures, spending nearly $5 million supporting Haley Stevens against Andy Levin, a Zionist critical of Israeli policies, in 2022. However, the group faced losses, such as in Pennsylvania’s Democratic House primary, where Summer Lee won despite AIPAC spending millions against her.
Beyond United Democracy Project, AIPAC has funneled funds into five smaller super PACs, spending approximately $22 million since 2022. These committees often avoid mentioning Israel in their names, allowing for election influence without immediate recognition. In Chicago, AIPAC-funded groups spent $7 million supporting Laura Fine, leading to backlash when the support was linked to AIPAC.
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