Israel lobby AIPAC reeling after midterm defeats

AIPAC's political dominance crumbles

The pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC was once a US political juggernaut, but deepening voter disillusion over US-Israeli ties and wins by openly Israel-sceptic candidates in last week's midterm elections have left it reeling.

Support for Israel becomes a liability

What was once an asset has become a liability in many races, as favourable opinions of Israel plummet over civilian deaths in Gaza and the costly Iran war.

El-Sayed defeats AIPAC twice in Michigan

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed tapped into anger over US funding for Israel's military and faced AIPAC-supported candidates in both the primary and general election, but emerged victorious to become the first Muslim senator.

El-Sayed taunts AIPAC in victory speech

The tens of millions of dollars spent by AIPAC-affiliated group United Democracy Project not only failed to beat El-Sayed but helped boost his messaging.He said in his victory speech: "To AIPAC…

“To AIPAC… Thank you for giving me the opportunity to beat you twice.”

AIPAC becomes a liability for Republicans

The tables flipped so completely that allies of El-Sayed's Republican opponent Mike Rogers reportedly even asked AIPAC to stop spending on him at one point.

Campaign strategist confirms shift

Adam Wood, a veteran Democratic campaign strategist with City and State Public Affairs, said AIPAC has become a liability, noting several campaigns he worked on in years past coveted AIPAC's support.

“They definitely have become a liability.”

Talarico wins Texas with anti-AIPAC message

Another Democratic Senate success story, James Talarico, won in Texas with a similar message of ending US funding for Israeli offensive weaponry and keeping distance from AIPAC.

Talarico rejects AIPAC funding

Talarico said early in his bid: "I've never taken money from AIPAC, and I'm not taking money from AIPAC in this campaign."

“I've never taken money from AIPAC, and I'm not taking money from AIPAC in this campaign.”

Israel favourability hits record low

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs has asked Americans to rate their favourability of Israel on a scale of zero to one hundred regularly since nineteen seventy-eight.

Democrats' Israel support collapses

Israel favourability dropped from fifty-eight in twenty twenty-two to forty-four today. For Democrats, the numbers are starker: a drop from fifty-two in twenty twenty-two to just thirty today.

Democrats tank on Israel, expert says

Dina Smeltz, a former State Department official who is now a managing director at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, said: "Democrats started to really tank on Israel."

“Democrats started to really tank on Israel.”

AOC brands AIPAC right-wing

Leftist Democratic star Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has branded AIPAC as "a right-wing organization that undermines democracy."

“a right-wing organization that undermines democracy.”

Trump announces end to Israel aid

On election day, President Donald Trump dialed into Fox and Friends and announced that the US would be ending a major annual aid package to Israel, something El-Sayed and others on the left have repeatedly…

Right-wing voices turn against Israel

Vice President JD Vance said his party's road to recovery after the midterms annihilation will require changing "our relationship to Israel."

AIPAC could recover if Netanyahu falls

Pro-Israel lobbyists are not going away.AIPAC already has competition from left-leaning pro-Israel J Street and the recently formed pro-Palestine American Priorities super PAC.

AIPAC has resources to rebuild

Dina Smeltz said of AIPAC: "It has been around for a long time, it has a lot of money." The group's long-term prospects depend on shifts in Israeli politics and American voter sentiment.

“It has been around for a long time, it has a lot of money.”