A swing seat in California is seeing a flurry of attack ads from pro-Israel forces. Why?
By David Dayen, The American Prospect
The premise behind AIPAC and its pro-Israel allies getting involved in Democratic primaries over the past two election cycles was that a new generation of progressive politicians had become too vocal about the Israeli government’s subjugation of the Palestinians. Therefore, according to these groups, money needed to come off the sidelines to prevent more critics from joining this faction in Washington, and eventually to replace the dissidents with loyal Israel supporters.

So then why is AIPAC’s first investment in the 2024 primary cycle targeting a former Chuck Schumer aide who supports continued funding of Israel without conditions, and who explicitly stated in a questionnaire that he did not “anticipate being on the front lines of any foreign policy issues”?
The surprise pro-Israel intervention in California’s 47th Congressional District has broader implications for anyone working in Democratic primary politics. Not only does AIPAC have the desire and financial resources to punish even the tiniest dissent from uncritical support for Israel, it is also determined to influence selections in swing seats, in ways that benefit Republicans in the general election and appear to be funded by Republican donors. That’s a problem for groups whose endorsements happen to align with AIPAC’s, and in particular the pro-women, pro-choice group EMILYs List.
Recent Posts
Zohran Mamdani Is Showing Democrats How To Shape Voter Opinion
June 23, 2025
Take Action Now Polls recorded shifts in NYC residents’ priorities following mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s campaigning on housing.By Susan…
Bombing Iran Is Part Of The USA’s Repetition Compulsion For War War War
June 22, 2025
Take Action Now More than ever, the United States and Israel are overt partners in what the Nuremberg Tribunal in 1946 called “the supreme…
62 percent Of Democrats Agree Party Leadership Should Be Replaced: Survey
June 20, 2025
Take Action Now The party has found it difficult to build a cohesive message as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has been embroiled in…
Democratic Leadership Is Complacent In The Face Of Iran War Threat
June 20, 2025
Take Action Now “It’s embarrassing that some problematic far-right figures are speaking out more forcefully against direct military…