AIPAC’s Super PAC, the United Democracy Project, has launched its first set of ads attacking Rep. Jamaal Bowman in the Democratic primary for New York’s 16th Congressional District. The ads accuse Bowman of having his own agenda and refusing to work with President Joe Biden. This move comes as part of AIPAC’s plan to spend $100 million this election cycle to oust members of the Squad who have been critical of U.S. military funding for Israel and have called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The AIPAC super PAC spent $1.9 million on these ads, which is significantly more than the $285,000 spent by Bowman supporters. In fact, outside groups in the race are spending nearly 10 times more in favor of Bowman’s opponent, Westchester County executive George Latimer. Latimer, who was recruited to run by AIPAC and has received substantial contributions from the group, has already raised $3.6 million for his campaign compared to Bowman’s $2.7 million.
Latimer’s campaign has also courted Republican donors and held fundraisers hosted by Republicans, including a major GOP donor to former President Donald Trump. One AIPAC donor has even been encouraging Republicans to switch parties just to vote against Bowman in the primary. However, Latimer’s campaign has distanced itself from these GOP-hosted fundraisers, claiming no control over who hosts such events.
The big spending push by AIPAC solidifies its position as one of the biggest spenders in Democratic Party primaries. The pro-Israel lobby plans to spend up to $20 million on each race it targets, with Bowman and Rep. Cori Bush being their next top targets. AIPAC’s involvement in these races raises questions about the influence of outside groups in elections and their ability to coordinate with campaigns, despite rules against such coordination.
The race between Bowman and Latimer has been marked by controversies on both sides. Latimer’s campaign faced scrutiny for leaving the Bronx, part of which is in the district, off his website and focusing solely on Westchester County, a primarily white suburb. He also made comments accusing Bowman of taking money from Hamas. On the other hand, Bowman’s decision to pull the fire alarm in Congress and his association with conspiratorial content on YouTube have become points of criticism.
Critics argue that AIPAC’s targeting of Black Democrats is concerning, especially considering its support for members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Rep. Summer Lee, who recently won her primary, criticized AIPAC for financially supporting candidates who cause harm to Black America. AIPAC’s independent expenditures against Democrats in the 2022 primaries were mostly spent against candidates of color.
Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for Justice Democrats, expressed concern that Republicans were using AIPAC’s super PAC to target Democrats of color. He emphasized that the ads attacking Bowman or defending Latimer were funded by GOP megadonors who have controversial stances on issues like abortion and insurrection.
Overall, AIPAC’s significant spending in the race between Bowman and Latimer raises questions about the influence of outside groups in elections and their impact on the democratic process. The involvement of AIPAC in targeting Democrats of color also raises concerns about the intersection of race and politics in campaign funding.
