Scoop: J Street PAC spending $3M to defeat AIPAC-backed Republicans
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The liberal pro-Israel group J Street is launching a $3 million offensive against five AIPAC-backed Republicans in some of the nation's most competitive midterm races, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The battle over Israel, which roiled Democratic primaries and fueled tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, is spilling into the general election and pitting two pro-Israel groups against each other.
Driving the news: The J Street Action Fund is targeting Georgia Senate candidate Mike Collins, Reps. Max Miller of Ohio, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa.
- It's the first time J Street has gone on offense against AIPAC-backed incumbents across a significant number of competitive races.
- And the investment is the largest super PAC expenditure in J Street's history.
- (Collins has received AIPAC's support in the past, but so far not in his current Senate bid.)
Between the lines: AIPAC and J Street have long represented competing visions of what it means to be pro-Israel, but their rivalry has intensified this cycle as divisions over Israel deepen in both parties.
- Both are pro-Israel, but J Street is more critical of the Israeli government than AIPAC.
Zoom out: The battle over Israel is playing out prominently in the Michigan Senate race, where Republican Mike Rogers has assailed Democrat Abdul El-Sayed over El-Sayed's criticisms of Israel.
- In Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, J Street backed Mallory McMorrow, who eventually dropped out of the race, while AIPAC spent tens of millions of dollars in an unsuccessful effort to nominate Rep. Haley Stevens.
- AIPAC signaled after the primary that it would support Rogers, but the relationship ruptured after Rogers asked the group not to advertise on his behalf, fearing the group's support could hurt him in a swing state with a large Arab population.
In Illinois, J Street helped Daniel Biss defeat a field that included AIPAC-backed Laura Fine in a closely watched Democratic House primary in March.
- In California, J Street supported now-Rep. Aisha Wahab in an August special House election as AIPAC and allied groups spent millions backing Melissa Hernandez.
By the numbers: AIPAC is facing growing political headwinds as American public opinion has shifted against Israel and has suffered defeats in a string of primary races this year.
- A June AP-NORC poll found that 25% of Americans viewed the group unfavorably, compared with 15% who viewed it favorably, though most had no opinion.
What they're saying: "While AIPAC supports deeply unqualified, antisemitic, and anti-democracy candidates to preserve blank-check support for the Netanyahu government, J Street is committed to exclusively supporting candidates who will fight for peace and democracy in the U.S. and abroad," said Tali deGroot, J Street's vice president of political and digital strategy.
- AIPAC spokesperson Deryn Sousa responded: "In this cycle alone, more than 260 AIPAC-endorsed candidates have won primaries across both parties.
- "We support Democrats, including progressives, and Republicans who strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. That is our focus," Sousa continued.
