AIPAC's plan to sink progressives: Slam them from the left
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Junaid Ahmed campaigns in Illinois' 8th congressional district. Photo: Junaid for Congress
Groups linked to AIPAC are employing an eyebrow-raising tactic to sink pro-Palestinian progressives in Democratic congressional primaries: Going after their leftist bona fides.
Why it matters: It is a telling indication of what the ruthlessly pragmatic pro-Israel organization sees as a winning message with Democratic voters who have grown increasingly hostile towards their brand.
- Rather than running ads through its go-to Democratic political arm, United Democracy Project, AIPAC appears to have employed a web of vaguely named groups targeting specific districts this cycle.
- Spokespeople for AIPAC did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
Driving the news: Chicago Progressive Partnership — which shares vendors, donors and a treasurer with other AIPAC-linked PACs — went on the air Thursday against Junaid Ahmed, the Congressional Progressive Caucus-backed candidate in Illinois' 8th district.
- Rather than going after Ahmed's well-documented criticisms of Israel, the CPP ad highlights the left-leaning tech consultant's personal wealth.
- It also cites an investment in Tesla that he disclosed in 2022 to tie him to Trump ally Elon Musk, and says he consulted for fossil fuel companies.
- The group has run a similar ad campaign against Kat Abughazaleh in Illinois' 9th district, alleging the outspoken Palestinian-American progressive received funds from "right-wing donors" and noting her past Republican views as a teenager.
By the numbers: The money behind these ads is significant, with CPP spending nearly $600,000 in the 8th district and more than $1 million in the 9th, according to data from advertising tracking firm AdImpact.
- That is on top of $3.2 million that Elect Chicago Women, another AIPAC-linked group, has spent on behalf of former Rep. Melissa Bean in the 8th district.
- In the 9th district, ECW has spent an eye-popping $4.6 billion in support of state Sen. Laura Fine and attacking Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss.
The other side: "This dishonest and disgusting attack is just more of the same from the MAGA-aligned extremists who are working overtime to paper over Melissa Bean's shoddy record," Ahmed told Axios in a statement.
- "They're attacking me because they know our progressive grassroots movement is stronger than AIPAC's dollars. The voters aren't buying that 'Wall Street's Favorite Democrat,' backed by millions in MAGA money, will fight Donald Trump and make their lives more affordable."
- Abughazaleh rejected CPP's claims, noting that the pro-Republican views she expressed were through op-eds in her now-defunct high school newspaper and saying she has no knowledge of having any GOP donors.
Zoom out: It's not just staunch pro-Palestinian progressives these AIPAC-linked groups are targeting.
- They have spent millions on ads attacking liberal Zionists like Biss and former Rep. Tom Malinowski in New Jersey's 11th district.
- United Democracy Project ran nearly $2 million in ads attacking Malinowski, in part, for taking pro-ICE votes when he was in Congress. The ads did not mention Israel.
What to watch: AIPAC critics are quick to note that Malinowski's race ended with pro-Palestinian progressive Analilia Mejia as the Democratic nominee, rather than AIPAC-supported Tanesha Way.
- Abughazaleh, in her video responding to CPP, speculated that the group is "trying to do everything in their power to peel away voters from myself" because they are "realizing that they might get another NJ-11 here."
- Illinois' primaries are scheduled for next Tuesday, March 17.
- CPP did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story.
