Pro-Israel hardliners spend millions to transform Democratic primaries

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/18/democratic-primaries-aipac-israel-hardline

Pro-Israel hardliners spend millions to transform Democratic primaries

Critics say Aipac and its allies are seeking to influence Democratic politics with money from Republican billionaires

Chris McGreal in New York
Tue 19 Jul 2022 02.00 EDT

Pro-Israel lobby groups have poured millions of dollars into a Democratic primary for a Maryland congressional seat on Tuesday, in the latest attempt to block an establishment candidate who expressed support for the Palestinians.

A surge in political spending by organisations funded by hardline supporters of Israel, led by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), has reshaped Democratic primaries over recent months even though debate about the country rarely figures as a major issue in the elections.

Critics accuse Aipac and its allies of distorting Democratic politics in part because much of the money used to influence primary races comes from billionaire Republicans.

Aipac has spent $6m on Tuesday’s contest in Maryland, more than any other organisation, to oppose Donna Edwards, who served eight years as the first Black woman elected to Congress from Maryland before losing a bid for the Senate in 2016.

Edwards is endorsed by the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, among other leading Democrats.

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(Citizens United in action. Today’s democracy now also reported.)