{"id":2485634,"date":"2025-09-12T05:25:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T09:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaza-conflict-drives-some-aipac-backed-democrats-to-reject-2026-cash\/"},"modified":"2025-09-12T05:26:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T09:26:15","slug":"gaza-conflict-drives-some-aipac-backed-democrats-to-reject-2026-cash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gaza-conflict-drives-some-aipac-backed-democrats-to-reject-2026-cash\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaza conflict drives some AIPAC-backed Democrats to reject 2026 cash"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgaza-conflict-drives-some-aipac-backed-democrats-to-reject-2026-cash%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2485634&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses a growing trend among some House Democrats, backed by AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee), to reject campaign donations from the pro-Israel lobbying group amid increasing political tensions over the Gaza conflict. Several Democrats who previously accepted AIPAC contributions-such as Reps. Morgan McGarvey, Deborah Ross, adn Valerie Foushee-have announced thay will no longer accept such funding, citing pressure from pro-Palestinian constituents and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-divisions-over-israel-laid-bare-as-war-continues\/\" title=\"...&#039;s ongoing ... exposes deep ... within the ....\">shifting public opinion<\/a> within the Democratic base.<\/p>\n<p>This shift reflects broader divisions within the Democratic Party over U.S. support for Israel following the war in Gaza, where calls for a ceasefire and reevaluation of military aid have grown louder. While AIPAC continues to have significant influence and financial power in Congress,these recent repudiations demonstrate the party&#8217;s internal conflict on the issue. some Democrats maintain support for Israel, while others openly criticize the Netanyahu government and advocate restricting military assistance.<\/p>\n<p>Polling shows declining Democratic approval for the Israel conflict, making the issue a growing factor in upcoming elections and primaries. Meanwhile, Republican support for Israel&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >military actions remains high<\/a>, although some noninterventionist Republicans oppose aid. AIPAC continues to spend heavily on candidates from both parties and plans to actively support pro-Israel candidates in the 2026 elections. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Gaza conflict drives some AIPAC-backed Democrats to reject 2026 cash<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2226981\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A growing number of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-democrats\/page\/17\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">House Democrats<\/a> are refusing money from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/aipac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AIPAC<\/a>, the pro-<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Israel<\/a> lobbying group, as the war in Gaza becomes politically toxic with the party&rsquo;s base.<\/p>\n<p>Over the last month, three House Democrats have sworn off contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee after accepting them in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/attorney-general-says-no-person-above-the-law-over-jan-6-after-memo-leaks\/\" title=\"Attorney General Says \u2018No Person\u2019 Above the Law Over Jan. 6 After Memo Leaks\">prior election cycles<\/a>. AIPAC was a top contributor to Reps. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/campaign-expenditures\/vendor?cycle=2024&amp;vendor=Morgan+McGarvey+for+Congress&amp;year=2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Morgan McGarvey<\/a> (D-KY) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/campaign-expenditures\/vendor?vendor=Deborah+Ross+for+Congress\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Deborah Ross<\/a> (D-NC), supporting their campaigns with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/members-of-congress\/morgan-mcgarvey\/summary?cid=N00049295\">combined<\/a> $104,000 in 2024, according to OpenSecrets, while Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC) received some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/outside-spending\/detail\/2022?cmte=C00799031&amp;tab=targeted_candidates\">$2 million in contributions<\/a> from its affiliated super PAC for her 2022 election bid.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3802994\/andy-barr-drops-first-tv-ad-campaign-as-he-gets-hit-with-2-million-negative-ad-spree\/\">Andy Barr drops first TV ad campaign as he gets hit with $2 million negative ad spree<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3801951\/house-oversight-dc-crime-bills-trump-federal-takeover-expires\/\">House Oversight takes up DC crime bills on day Trump&#8217;s federal takeover expires<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3799638\/james-walkinshaw-wins-virginia-special-election-gerry-connolly\/\">Democrat James Walkinshaw wins Virginia special election to succeed Rep. Gerry Connolly<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>All three announced they would <a href=\"https:\/\/theintercept.com\/2025\/08\/29\/aipac-israel-gaza-democrats-deborah-ross\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">not accept<\/a> further donations over the <a href=\"https:\/\/forwardky.com\/mcgarvey-campaign-will-no-longer-accept-pro-israel-aipac-money-rep-says-tag-news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">August recess<\/a><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/forwardky.com\/mcgarvey-campaign-will-no-longer-accept-pro-israel-aipac-money-rep-says-tag-news\/\" target=\"_blank\">,<\/a>&nbsp;as pro-Palestinian constituents at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/indyweek.com\/news\/northcarolina\/valerie-foushee-aipac-money-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\">town halls<\/a>&nbsp;brought the issue back to the fore of p<\/span>olitical debate.<\/p>\n<p>The Democratic divide over Israel has persisted since the earliest days of the war in Gaza, with the Left pressing for a ceasefire or cutoff in military assistance. But the new wave of disavowals represents the latest sign that the conflict, which has killed thousands of Palestinians, has become polarizing within the mainstream of the party.<\/p>\n<p>Weeks earlier, a majority of Senate Democrats <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3487181\/senate-defeats-growing-democratic-bid-restrict-israel-military-aid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">voted to restrict<\/a> the sale of munitions to Israel, though the measure failed in the Republican-led chamber.<\/p>\n<p>AIPAC, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/orgs\/american-israel-public-affairs-cmte\/recipients?candscycle=2024&amp;id=D000046963&amp;toprecipscycle=2024\">spent more than $40 million<\/a> in congressional races last cycle, has found some success in ousting the House&rsquo;s most vocal Israel critics. Former Reps. Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman were the <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/538\/pro-israel-groups-spent-big-oust-squad-members\/story?id=113675889#:~:text=In%20the%20end%2C%20Bowman%20and,on%20data%20compiled%20by%20OpenSecrets.\">only Democratic incumbents<\/a> to lose their congressional primaries, and both faced a deluge of spending from pro-Israel groups.<\/p>\n<p>But AIPAC has faced a widening chasm within the party in the nearly two years since Hamas launched its invasion of Israel, killing hundreds of civilians. Public sentiment seemingly reached a turning point in July as reports of famine and Israeli soldiers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/07\/19\/middleeast\/israel-gaza-food-aid-shooting-intl\">firing<\/a> on food lines in Gaza drove even sympathetic Democrats to issue rebukes.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO), the AIPAC-backed candidate who defeated Bush, said he could not &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepWesleyBellMO\/status\/1948426673809928297\">stand by<\/a>&rdquo; as Palestinians go hungry, while Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, <a href=\"https:\/\/adamsmith.house.gov\/news\/press-releases\/rep-smith-calls-us-leverage-certain-arms-sales-israel\">endorsed<\/a> using American military aid as leverage to influence how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is conducting the war.<\/p>\n<p>Netanyahu, who has described the reports as &ldquo;malicious falsehoods,&rdquo; came under even greater scrutiny on Tuesday, when Israel launched a strike targeting Hamas leadership in Doha, a move that drew <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3796759\/trump-fumes-israel-attack-qatar-will-not-happen-again\/\">rare criticism<\/a> from President Donald Trump given Qatar&rsquo;s alliance with the United States.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have a lot of members,&rdquo; Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), one of 37 House Democrats to <a href=\"https:\/\/clerk.house.gov\/Votes\/2024152\">vote against<\/a> $14 billion in military aid to Israel last year, said of the more diffuse criticism. &ldquo;I think their clout is diminishing, and they know that.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>AIPAC maintains that Israel has a broad base of support within Congress, with the three House Democrats swearing off AIPAC money representing a <a href=\"https:\/\/aipacorg.app.box.com\/s\/z2oa78jwjmr2ytmon22xumvxk2d4uphf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">small share<\/a> of the hundreds who received contributions in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The divisions over Israel also do not fall neatly into two camps. Democrats like Bell continue to defend Israel from progressive attacks. At a town hall in August, he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kcur.org\/politics-elections-and-government\/2025-08-20\/wesley-bell-israel-gaza-missouri-congress\">pushed back<\/a> on protesters characterizing the siege of Gaza as a &ldquo;genocide.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/orgs\/american-israel-public-affairs-cmte\/recipients?candscycle=2024&amp;id=D000046963&amp;toprecipscycle=2022&amp;t3-search=jackson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">received<\/a> more than $12,000 from AIPAC over the last two election cycles, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that he would still accept its contributions even as he openly criticizes the Netanyahu government.<\/p>\n<p>Jackson is one of 45 Democrats who have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-bill\/3565\/cosponsors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">co-sponsored a bill<\/a>, the Block the Bombs Act, that would cut off some offensive military assistance to Israel.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The overwhelming majority of Democrats and Republicans welcome the support of our 5 million members because they recognize that being pro-Israel is both good policy and good politics,&rdquo; AIPAC spokesman Marshall Wittmann said in a statement. &ldquo;They understand that Israel is fighting a just and moral war against Hamas terrorism, and they will not be dissuaded by extremists hostile to the Jewish state.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The congressional support is directly tied to public polling on the war in Gaza. Criticism of Israel has been muted within the Republican Party, tracking with surveys that show broad approval of Israel&rsquo;s military operation among GOP voters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Among Democrats, criticism has grown louder as the war becomes deeply unpopular with the party base. Just 8% of Democrats approved of the conflict in a July <a href=\"https:\/\/news.gallup.com\/poll\/692948\/u.s.-back-israel-military-action-gaza-new-low.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gallup poll<\/a>, down from 36% in November 2023.<\/p>\n<p>The shift has profound implications in House districts across the country, seeping into Democratic primaries as a possible liability for more centrist members.<\/p>\n<p>Ross, one of the Democrats to decline AIPAC money, is a relative centrist, according to a GovTrack scorecard, while Foushee and McGarvey, Kentucky&rsquo;s only House Democrat, are in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govtrack.us\/congress\/members\/report-cards\/2024\/party-house-democrat\/ideology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">middle of the pack<\/a> ideologically.<\/p>\n<p>In Republican politics, criticism of Israel has largely been limited to the noninterventionist wing of the party, as represented by lawmakers like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) in the House.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, 21 Republicans voted against the $14 billion in military aid to Israel.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3800127\/thune-senate-rule-change-bad-apple-nominees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>THUNE TO LET GOP SENATORS NIX &lsquo;BAD APPLE&rsquo; NOMINEES UNDER NEW SENATE RULE CHANGE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>AIPAC supports members of both parties, and despite its heavy involvement in Democratic primaries last cycle, it spent more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/orgs\/american-israel-public-affairs-cmte\/recipients?candscycle=2024&amp;id=D000046963&amp;toprecipscycle=2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$16 million<\/a> on Republican congressional candidates in 2024. That figure stood at $25 million for Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our activists will be deeply engaged in the 2026 elections to elect candidates who stand with Israel,&rdquo; said Wittmann, the AIPAC spokesman.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gaza war prompts some AIPAC-backed Democrats to refuse funds<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2485635,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP23237033481291.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[45496,33006,3685,38061],"class_list":["post-2485634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-2026-election","tag-aipac","tag-democrats","tag-gaza-conflict"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP23237033481291.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2485634"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485634\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2485638,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2485634\/revisions\/2485638"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2485635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2485634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2485634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2485634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}