The defeat of left-wing “Squad” member Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) in her primary election has reignited the debate surrounding the role of the pro-Israel political action committee (PAC) AIPAC in Democratic primaries.
Following her loss, Bush lashed out at AIPAC, vowing to “tear [their] kingdom down.” She claimed that the organization’s support for her opponent, St. Louis County District Attorney Wesley Bell, was a sign of its “divisiveness” within the Democratic Party.
However, AIPAC has pushed back against these accusations. In a statement earlier this year, the organization said it is “the largest PAC contributor to Democratic candidates” and that its support is “entirely consistent with progressive values.”
AIPAC also noted that its affiliated super PAC, United Democracy Project, had supported “a number of Democratic progressive candidates in the last election cycle, who defeated anti-Israel candidates in their primary, won their general election, and are currently serving in Congress.”
The defeat of Bush, a vocal critic of Israel’s policies, comes on the heels of the loss of another “Squad” member, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), in his primary election last month. This has led to calls for a “real conversation” about AIPAC’s influence within the Democratic Party.
As the debate continues, AIPAC remains firm in its stance that its involvement in Democratic primaries is driven by a desire to support candidates who align with its pro-Israel agenda, not to sow division within the party.
