![]() The J Street spot, like those from UDP supporting Stevens, makes no mention of Israel. In their new 30-second ad, the J Street group hammers Stevens for accepting AIPAC support – in the form of bundled donations – in a video featuring images of violence at the US Capitol and from a recent hearing of the House select committee investigating it. “We’re proud to do all we can to back the candidacy of Andy Levin, a fighter for democratic values and a true champion for the pro-Israel, pro-peace beliefs that most Jewish-Americans share.” ![]() “Democratic voters in Michigan’s 11th district deserve to know that AIPAC, a group that endorses 109 insurrectionist-aligned Republican, is funneling millions of dollars from GOP megadonors into support for Haley Stevens – targeting Andy Levin simply because he fights for the principled views and values of mainstream Democrats,” J Street Vice President of Public Affairs Kevin Rachlin said in a statement. Biden, who has not endorsed in the Michigan primary, is traveling to Israel this week to begin a Middle East trip that will also take him to Saudi Arabia. J Street’s super PAC recently invested there to defend Edwards with a $500,000 television buy, complementing more than $150,000 in digital and direct mail advertising.ĪIPAC’s stepped up involvement in these races has frustrated some Democrats, most prominently from the party’s progressive wing, who have criticized the group – and some of the candidates who have benefited from its spending – over its endorsement of Republicans who voted against certifying President Joe Biden’s election after the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot. Donna Edwards in the 4th Congressional District. The group has dramatically raised the stakes, too, in Maryland, ahead of its July 19 primary, already spending more than $4 million to defeat former Rep. ![]() Summer Lee overcame the more than $2 million it spent against her in a race with Steve Irwin in a new Pittsburgh-based district. But UDP suffered a high-profile defeat in Pennsylvania, where state Rep. Henry Cuellar, who narrowly won nomination over progressive Jessica Cisneros in a runoff. This spring, the super PAC successfully backed a pair of candidates in open-seat primaries in North Carolina, while also helping boost Texas Rep. Notably, Israel is not the focus of television ads paid for by UDP. The group’s increased involvement has sharpened intraparty struggles over Israel policy, but, in backing moderate or centrist candidates, also resonated as a new front in the old proxy battle between the Democratic establishment and progressives. The escalating tension – and spending – in Michigan is the latest front in AIPAC’s efforts to influence Democratic House primaries this year. AIPAC, a hawkish pro-Israel group that supports both Democrats and Republicans, endorsed Stevens and has attacked Levin, who is Jewish and comes from one of Michigan’s most prominent Jewish political families, over his willingness to criticize some Israeli policy. ![]() According to the most recent available disclosures, UDP has spent more than $910,000 backing Stevens. J Street says its decision to jump into the August 2 primary was prompted by the massive outlay on Stevens’ behalf by a super PAC, United Democracy Project, affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. Where members of Congress are pitted against each other in 2022 primaries ![]()
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