Israel policy looms large over US elections in Illinois amid Iran war | Election news

Washington, DC – Pro-Israel groups in the United States are spending millions of dollars on elections to assert their influence on growing anger about Israeli policies.

A set of primaries in the Midwestern state of Illinois on Tuesday represented an early test of the strength of pro-Israel politics in the US amid the countries’ joint war on Iran.

Groups associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) emerged as some of the biggest spenders in the Chicago-area Democratic primaries, where Israel’s popularity in the US is historically low.

As Democrats increasingly reject AIPAC’s brand, newly formed political action committees (PACs) with common names that share vendors with the pro-Israel lobby group are spending heavily against progressives in Illinois.

A number of so-called dark money groups, which do not have to disclose their funding until after voting, have endorsed the same candidates as AIPAC.

According to an investigation by Chicago public radio WBEZ, AIPAC and its donors spent $13.7m on the primaries, including money funneled to shadow PACs.

Usama Andrabi, a spokesman for the progressive group Justice Democrats, said AIPAC is using “secret shell” groups because it is aware of Israel’s unpopularity, especially after the “live-streamed genocide” in Gaza.

AIPAC’s electoral arm is called the United Democracy Project, a name that does not refer to Israel, he noted.

“AIPAC has always relied on voters not knowing the whole story,” Andrabi told Al Jazeera.

“AIPAC has become such a toxic force in the Democratic Party that voters now see an AIPAC-backed candidate and reject him for that support.”

A source close to AIPAC told The Jewish Insider this week that the group is focused on defeating six candidates critical of Israel in four contests in Illinois.

Cat Abugazleh race

In one of the most closely watched races, Kat Abugazleh, a 26-year-old progressive activist with a large online following, is locked in a crowded race for the open seat vacated by retiring Congressman John Schakowsky.

Abughazaleh, who has openly called Israel’s war on Gaza a genocide, is running against several candidates for the safe Democratic seat.

Her most viable opponents are Daniel Biss, the mayor of the Chicago suburb of Evanston, who is critical of some Israeli policies and is backed by the liberal Zionist group J Street, and State Senator Laura Fine, who is seen as a pro-Israel candidate in the race.

The AIPAC-affiliated group initially attacked Biss for pushing Fine.

But fearing another miscalculation like the recent race in New Jersey, where an attack on a centrist candidate who was mildly critical of Israel helped an outright progressive activist win, pro-Israel groups have focused on Abugazleh in recent days.

And in a weird twist, a group linked to AIPAC ran an ad last week supporting Bushra Amiwala, who vehemently opposes US aid to Israel, in an apparent attempt to siphon votes from Abughazaleh and possibly Bis.

Amiwala denied the ad. “This is an attempt to smear my name by putting it next to pro-genocide, pro-war… billionaires,” he said.

AIPAC had not responded to Al Jazeera’s request for comment by the time of publication.

Andrabi of Justice Democrats said AIPAC’s tactics show the group has become a “toxic” brand of lobbying for Democratic voters.

Andrabi said the Justice Democrats have endorsed Abugazleh in the race, but even if Bis wins, it will be a loss for AIPAC.

According to the latest Public Policy Polling survey, Abugazale is second to Bis with 20 percent to 24 percent respectively, followed by Fine with 14 percent.

In the neighboring district’s Democratic primary, progressive candidate Junaid Ahmed is closing the gap with former congresswoman Melissa Bean, a pro-Israel candidate.

While Ahmed has focused his campaign on domestic issues, he has highlighted AIPAC’s interference in the race.

“This is black money against democracy, and tomorrow we will send AIPAC packing,” Ahmed wrote in a social media post on Monday.

AIPAC is losing a long battle

Other contested races include a primary contest to fill the seat of Rep. Robin Kelly, who is now running for Senate.

Race pits Jesse Jackson Jr., son of the late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, against several candidates, including Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller. Supported by state senator Robert Peters, who has criticized pro-Israel groups and AIPAC.

Another crowded race is underway Tuesday to fill the seat of retiring Democratic congressman Danny Davis.

AIPAC’s priority is to defeat activist Kina Collins in that race, according to Jewish Insider. Other candidates include Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyers-Erwin and state Rep. LaShawn Ford.

A primary election will also be held to determine the Democratic and Republican nominees for the Senate, as incumbent Dick Durbin will leave Congress at the end of his term.

On the Democratic side, the winner likely to replace Durbin, Kelly, a congresswoman who has accused Israel of genocide, faces Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Congressman Raja Krishnamurthy — both staunch Israel supporters.

Regardless of Tuesday’s results, polls show AIPAC’s waning influence, Andrabi said.

He accused the pro-Israel lobby group of “moving the goal posts,” from electing candidates it favors to blocking progressive optimists.

“We want to win all these races without a doubt. But I think it’s clear that AIPAC is losing a long-term battle for the future of this party,” Andrabi told Al Jazeera.

While a majority of Democrats in Congress are pro-Israel, an NBC poll published Monday indicates that only 17 percent of the party’s voters sympathize more with the Israelis than with the Palestinians.

Tuesday’s elections pose an early test of voter attitudes toward the war on Iran, the fallout of which is starting to bite Americans at the gas pump.

While most Democratic candidates have opposed a U.S. attack on Iran without congressional approval, Andrabi said war will be a key issue in Tuesday’s primary and beyond.

“This Democratic base doesn’t want any permanent wars. They don’t want a war led by Donald Trump. They don’t want a war with Iran and they don’t want the war we’re waging for Israel or AIPAC,” he said.