Rashida Tlaib’s Influence Grows Through Fundraising Post Israel-Hamas Conflict
Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan raised $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2024 and a total of $6.45 million this cycle. Despite being censured by the House last year for anti-Israel comments, she is now a top fundraiser, ranking 12th in the House. Most donations come from California, and her fundraising spiked after the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tlaib remains highly active in advocating for causes important to her constituents.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) raked in $1.9 million in her first fundraising quarter of 2024, raising a total of $6.45 million this cycle following her criticism of Israel’s handling of the war against Hamas and her censure by the House last year.
Tlaib, the only Palestinian American serving in Congress, is the 12th highest fundraiser in the House, coming in right behind notoriously strong fundraiser and fellow Squad member, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and ahead of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Until the Israel-Hamas war, Tlaib was not known for her fundraising prowess, unlike those in House leadership positions.
The congresswoman ended the first quarter with $5.2 million on hand and successfully managed to stave off any serious primary challenge for her Democratic 12th Congressional District. According to campaign finance records, the majority of her individual contributions this cycle are coming from donations in California, followed by Michigan and Texas. The highest contributions are coming in from a political action committee formed by AOC to promote progressive candidates, Demand Justice PAC, an influential group focused on court reform, a variety of unions, and Arab American groups.
Her campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission show she had her strongest fundraising quarter at the end of 2023 when she raised $3.7 million in the months after Hamas’s deadly attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Tlaib’s campaign cash flow has also skyrocketed since the House censured her last November over her pro-Palestinian comments concerning the conflict in Israel and for her defense of the phrase “From the river to the sea” that many see as an antisemitic call for Israel’s destruction.
The Michigan congresswoman unsuccessfully launched an eleventh-hour attempt last week to add an amendment to a foreign aid bill that would restrict all military aid to Israel from the legislation until there is a “lasting ceasefire,” a release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and Israeli hostages in Gaza, and a “credible diplomatic process.”
Tlaib’s impressive back-to-back numbers appear to correlate with the conflict in Israel and her backing of Michigan’s “uncommitted” campaign to cast a protest vote against President Joe Biden to urge a ceasefire in Gaza. During a prior campaign finance reporting deadline in mid-2023, Tlaib had raised just over $880,000 total for her 2024 reelection race and only had about $620,000 cash remaining in her bank account. A year ago during the first quarter of 2023, she had raised under $300,000, compared to shy of $2 million this most recent quarter.
This all comes as powerful pro-Israel lobbying groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee have committed to spend millions on efforts to defeat progressive lawmakers who they view as not supportive of Israel. However, those groups have been unable to recruit a Democratic primary challenger to take on Tlaib.
“I would say none of us who have been elected are untouchable,” said Wayne County Commissioner and 13th District Democratic Party Chairman Jonathan Kinloch. “A lot of times people just throw their names into races, and they know against Rashida, that’s not a race you just throw your name into; you’d have to get ready for a royal rumble.”
Kinloch notes Tlaib is known to be a champion of constituent services and is popular in her district, which includes a portion of Detroit and all of Dearborn, the largest city in the United States with an Arab American majority.
“I know folks want to talk about the Palestinian piece, but Rashida, she’s worked very hard on a number of issues,” he said. “Her constituent services are, bar none, one of the best I know of in Congress.”
Other members of the so-called Squad are not receiving the same level of financial support. Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO) are facing competitive primary challenges, partly due to the fundraising efforts and influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups. Bowman was outraised by George Latimer, a Westchester County politician, who raised nearly $1 million more than Bowman during the first quarter of 2024. More than $950,000 was raised through earmarked donations to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Bush’s primary opponent, St. Louis county prosecutor, Wesley Bell, raised about $100,000 more than Bush. It’s unclear how much funding may have come from pro-Israel groups, however Bell raised $650,000 in earmarked contributions through Democracy Engine Inc PAC, a platform that allows some organizations to obscure their donations.
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Tlaib has already formed joint fundraising committees with Bowman and Bush to help boost their financial standing. But even still, some progressive Democrats believe more should be done for those vulnerable members.
“I think it’s well established that Rep. Rashida Tlaib isn’t going anywhere,” said a Democratic consultant who works with progressive candidates who asked to remain anonymous to reflect candidly on the situation. “It’s amazing she raised that much this quarter and that she formed a committee, but we really need to see stronger fundraising from endangered candidates who are being targeted by the pro-Israel groups.”
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