“If it wasn’t for the AIPAC spending, this would have been a sleepy primary. When they came in and dropped millions of dollars on the race, it totally upended the race” said a longtime New Jersey Democratic strategist.
A super PAC aligned with AIPAC, the United Democracy Project, suffered a high-profile setback in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District Thursday, as progressive candidate Analilia Mejia surged ahead of former Rep. Tom Malinowski despite the PAC spending over $2 million against him.
The result highlights growing resistance among Democratic voters to unconditional support for Israel, particularly in the wake of its genocide in Gaza. Mejia, backed by progressive leaders including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, focused on local issues and avoided negative campaigning, contrasting with the super PAC’s heavy spending and attempts to sway the race.
Observers say the PAC’s tactics may have backfired, fracturing the establishment vote and boosting a candidate critical of Israel. The loss underscores a broader shift in Democratic politics, where polls show a majority now sympathize more with Palestinians than Israelis, and lawmakers increasingly question U.S. support for Israel’s military operations.
