AIPAC Cuts Fundraising Support for Democrats Who Voted Against Israel Aid

AIPAC has stopped helping 18 House Democrats raise campaign money after they voted Wednesday for a failed amendment introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie that would have blocked the $3.3 billion in annual US military financing provided to Israel.

The lawmakers had previously received AIPAC’s endorsement, but their donation links were removed from the organization’s political fundraising website following the vote. AIPAC has not formally announced that it revoked their endorsements.

AIPAC endorses both Democratic and Republican candidates whom it considers supportive of the US-Israel relationship. Its political action committee allows members and other supporters to direct campaign donations to endorsed candidates through an online portal.

The organization may support lawmakers despite disagreements over domestic policy because its endorsements focus primarily on Israel and the US-Israel alliance. The 18 Democrats had qualified for its backing based on their records or stated positions, making their decision to support a complete cutoff of the military-financing package a direct conflict with one of AIPAC’s main priorities.

The amendment, introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, was defeated 314–104. Massie was the only Republican to vote for it, while 103 Democrats supported the measure.

The proposal would have blocked the $3.3 billion in annual Foreign Military Financing provided to Israel. Its language was broader than a targeted restriction on particular weapons and would have prevented funds in the State Department spending bill from being used for Israel.

The affected Democrats included several senior party figures, among them House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, former House Armed Services Committee chairman Adam Smith and longtime Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal.

Clark said before the vote that she would support the amendment because Washington “should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with US law, interests, and values.”

Her vote was particularly significant because she is the second-ranking Democrat in the House and had previously been considered sufficiently supportive of Israel to receive AIPAC’s endorsement.

Asked about the removal of the fundraising links, an AIPAC spokesperson said, “AIPAC members are deeply appreciative of their representatives who stand on principle and are disappointed by those who don’t.”

The organization reportedly does not plan to continue providing financial support to the lawmakers, although it did not issue a public statement formally canceling their endorsements.

Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan of New York responded by rejecting AIPAC’s endorsement. He said he would return contributions made directly by AIPAC’s political action committee and refund individual AIPAC-linked donors who requested their money back.

Some Democrats who favor restricting American support for offensive Israeli operations still voted against the proposal because it could have affected diplomatic, educational and civilian programs connected to Israel.

Massie, a longtime opponent of foreign aid, argued that the funds should instead be spent inside the United States. “I think we should stop it — we should put them on a diet,” he said.

AIPAC has long sought to preserve bipartisan congressional backing for Israel by supporting candidates from both major parties. The latest vote now places it in direct conflict with Democrats it had previously endorsed, as opposition to military assistance for Israel spreads beyond the party’s progressive wing.