NEW: I spent months tracking every single dollar AIPAC spent this year. This investigation paints a picture of just how much the pro-Israel lobbying group has reshaped elections after starting to spend directly on candidates just 2 years ago 🧵 theintercept.com/2024/10/24/aip…
There are few seats in Congress that AIPAC spending hasn’t touched. The group soent on more than 80% of the seats up for election this cycle: AIPAC backed 389 candidates
AIPAC’s strategy is bipartisan. While AIAPC backed more Republicans than Democrats, it spend more on the Democrats it did back - namely on Wesley Bell and George Latimer, the 2 candidates it picked to oust squad members Reps. Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman
After every win this cycle, AIPAC tweeted: “Being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics!” The data I analyzed shows a more complicated picture. Of the 389 candidates AIPAC backed, 57 faced no primary. Of the candidates that did face a primary, 88 had no opponent
In the races AIPAC targeted thru its super PAC, United Democracy Project, AIPAC was the biggest spender by far
AIPAC’s entry into direct electoral spending has fundamentally shifted how congressional elections work. Being critical of pro-Israel policy now has clear cost for members of Congress. And as AIPAC expands its reach, that cost goes up
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