AIPAC targets Black Democrats — while the Congressional Black Caucus stays silent

UNITED STATES – MAY 9: Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, holds a press conference following the CBC’s National Summit on Democracy & Race, near Capitol Hill, on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Sep 12, 2024 Story by: Editor

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a lobbying group that supports both Republican and Democrat candidates, is actively recruiting candidates to challenge progressive members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in the upcoming primaries. Media reports and an investigation by *The Intercept* suggest that AIPAC’s current focus is on targeting CBC incumbents, primarily those associated with the progressive “Squad.”

The CBC has remained silent on AIPAC’s efforts, despite the lobby’s plan to challenge at least three of its members. This silence highlights a growing divide within the Democratic Party regarding Israel. While progressives have increasingly voiced support for Palestinian rights, many CBC members continue to receive financial backing from AIPAC. According to Federal Election Commission records, AIPAC has contributed at least $3.6 million to more than half of the CBC members since February 2022.

Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats, called on the CBC to defend its progressive members, stating, “AIPAC and its Republican donors are intentionally targeting progressive members of the Congressional Black Caucus with right-wing primary challenges.” She emphasized that the CBC should use its power to protect all incumbents from AIPAC’s influence, which often channels Republican funding into Democratic primaries.

AIPAC’s focus has reportedly been on Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who have supported placing restrictions on U.S. aid to Israel. According to three anonymous sources, AIPAC reached out to Pittsburgh-area Democrat Lindsay Powell and Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor to challenge Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.), but both declined. Bhavini Patel, a council member in Edgewood, Pennsylvania, is rumored to be considering a run against Lee.

While AIPAC did not respond directly to questions about its role in the challenges, the organization defended its track record of supporting Black candidates. A spokesperson for AIPAC said, “We have not made any decisions on specific races this cycle, but we are constantly evaluating every seat held by a detractor of the U.S.-Israel relationship.”

The CBC, meanwhile, has not commented on the situation, and its silence has fueled further division between its progressive and centrist members. Since 2019, five Black progressives have joined the CBC, including Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar, and Jamaal Bowman. Their criticism of Israel’s policies and U.S. military aid has made them targets of AIPAC’s efforts.

CBC members with close ties to AIPAC, such as Representatives Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), have received significant financial support from the group. Jeffries, now the leader of the House Democratic Caucus, has previously led efforts to protect incumbents from primary challengers, and his relationship with AIPAC puts him at odds with some of the CBC’s more progressive members.

Tensions also surfaced after Omar and Bush boycotted an address by Israel’s President Isaac Herzog in July, while Jeffries welcomed Herzog and led a congressional delegation to Israel the following month. Jeffries’ spokesperson reiterated that he intends to continue supporting all Democratic incumbents, from centrists to progressives.

The discord between AIPAC and progressive CBC members mirrors broader friction between the Democratic Party’s moderate and progressive wings. CBC members have also been involved in efforts to challenge progressives within the party, with some supporting former Rep. Mondaire Jones in a bid against Bowman. Despite the pushback, progressive strategists like Camille Rivera warn that AIPAC’s influence risks undermining the CBC’s core mission to protect Black incumbents and expand representation.
Summer Lee, who faced a $5 million campaign from AIPAC in 2022, accused the group of using “baseless lies and racist tactics” to discourage Black voters. She criticized AIPAC for supporting Republicans aligned with election denialism while targeting Black progressive champions. “These attacks add fuel to the fire of fascism tearing away the history, civil rights, and lives of Black Americans,” Lee said, underscoring the high stakes for Black representation in Congress. Source: The Intercept