AIPAC's influence in US politics
The gist
AIPAC spent $84.1 million on 2026 midterm races, with nearly two-thirds going to candidates who lost.
The results test whether the lobby's money still moves US elections.
How it unfolded
- Oct 13, 2025Two dueling congressional letters on Palestinian statehood show how toxic Israel has become among Democrats and how far AIPAC's influence has fallen.
- Aug 13, 2026In Michigan's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Abdul El-Sayed lambasted opponent Rep. Haley Stevens for receiving AIPAC support.
- Aug 18, 2026UDP lost $4.92 million in an unsuccessful effort to support Melissa Hernandez and oppose Aisha Wahab in a California special election runoff.
Key terms
- AIPAC
- A pro-Israel American lobbying group that advocates for policies strengthening the U.S.–Israel relationship.
- super PAC
- A U.S. political action committee that can raise unlimited funds for independent campaign spending but cannot coordinate with candidates.
- midterms
- US general elections held near the midpoint of a president's four-year term, when all House seats and about a third of Senate seats are contested.
Source: Wikipedia