{"id":2607429,"date":"2026-05-27T13:39:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T17:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/josh-shapiro-says-weaponization-of-aipacs-politics-is-a-problem-in-our-system\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T13:40:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T17:40:18","slug":"josh-shapiro-says-weaponization-of-aipacs-politics-is-a-problem-in-our-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/josh-shapiro-says-weaponization-of-aipacs-politics-is-a-problem-in-our-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Josh Shapiro says &#8216;weaponization&#8217; of AIPAC&#8217;s politics is &#8216;a problem in our system&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/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%2Fjosh-shapiro-says-weaponization-of-aipacs-politics-is-a-problem-in-our-system%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=2607429&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>Josh Shapiro,Pennsylvania\u2019s governor,criticized the way anti-AIPAC rhetoric has been used in U.S. elections, saying it can become \u201ccynical\u201d and dangerous as it blurs criticism of a political group\u2019s influence with hostility toward Jewish Americans or Jewish political donors. In an interview with *Politico*, he warned against the \u201cweaponization\u201d of AIPAC politics to silence voices based on race, faith, or ideology-and said that linking AIPAC money with Jewish identity is especially harmful to the political system.<\/p>\n<p>Shapiro also clarified that he doesn\u2019t agree with every decision AIPAC has made, but argues that attacks that target participation by Jews in politics are unacceptable. The article places his comments in the broader context of 2026 midterm battles where AIPAC-linked donations and endorsements have been prominent-citing debates involving Republicans such as Thomas Massie in kentucky and Democrats such as Tom Malinowski in New Jersey, along with AIPAC criticism from Democrats in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p>The piece notes Shapiro has not yet faced a federal-election decision involving whether to accept AIPAC support directly, though he is viewed as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-real-scandal-in-the-classified-documents-debacle-is-washingtons-overclassification-problem\/\" title=\"The Real Scandal In The Classified Documents Debacle Is Washington...s Overclassification Problem\">potential presidential contender<\/a> later.For now, he says his focus is on his 2026 reelection campaign, where he faces state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, and on generally helping Democrats through the midterms.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-shapiro\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5122\">Josh Shapiro<\/a> (D-PA) weighed in on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jon-stewart-continues-proving-hes-a-hack\/\" title=\"Jon Stewart Continues Proving He...s a Hack\">national conversation surrounding<\/a> the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/aipac\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2620\">American Israel Public Affairs Committee<\/a> donating to and endorsing American political candidates, calling the \u201ccynical\u201d use of anti-AIPAC sentiments \u201ca danger for our system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIPAC endorsements and donations from its associated PACs have become a central conversation in the 2026 midterm elections, as the group\u2019s influence has played a significant role in primary elections in states such as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kentucky\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"30\">Kentucky<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-jersey\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1065\">New Jersey<\/a>. Shapiro, who has been vocal about his own Jewish faith, warned in a <em>Politico<\/em> interview that aired Tuesday about the dangers of conflating anti-AIPAC sentiments and frustration with Jewish donors in elections.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4583438\/tom-steyer-historic-spending-ca-campaign-marginal-poll-gains\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tom Steyer sinks historic $195 million into California campaign and sees marginal polling gains<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4581881\/rob-bonta-gubernatorial-candidates-paying-influencers-endorsements\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>California attorney general \u2018looking into\u2019 gubernatorial candidates paying influencers for endorsements<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4581069\/trump-endorse-ty-masterson-kansas-governor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump endorses Ty Masterson for Kansas governor<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think it\u2019s been used cynically, by some, to try and silence certain voices, to try and say that certain people participating in politics shouldn\u2019t count, or should be viewed in a toxic way,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6eXzAZa1PSw\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6eXzAZa1PSw\">Shapiro said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNow, do I agree with every political decision they\u2019ve made?\u201d Shapiro continued, referring to AIPAC. \u201cEvery endorsement they\u2019ve made? Of course not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shapiro, who has served as Pennsylvania\u2019s governor since 2023, was a victim of an antisemitic attack on his home in April 2025, when an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3849356\/cody-balmer-firebomb-josh-shapiro-pennsylvania-governors-residence-pleads-guilty\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shapiro-and-family-evacuated-after-arsonist-sets-fire-to-mansion-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"... and family evacuated after &#039;arsonist&#039; sets fire to mansion - Washington Examiner\">arsonist set fire<\/a><\/a> to the governor\u2019s mansion over the Passover holiday. The arsonist said he was motivated by his anger over Shapiro\u2019s stance on the Israel-Hamas War, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3381815\/cody-balmer-suspect-shapiro-arson-attack-israel-gaza-conflict\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3381815\/cody-balmer-suspect-shapiro-arson-attack-israel-gaza-conflict\/\">according to an affidavit<\/a>. Shapiro has been outspoken about his Jewish faith and how it has shaped his personal life and career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat I am greeted by, even by people who disagree with my politics, is respect and tolerance for being open about my faith, and in many ways it invites them to share more about their own faith and to share more about their own customs and their tradition,\u201d Shapiro said, discussing the conversations he\u2019s had with Pennsylvanians as he travels across the state.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AIPAC was largely talked about in Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17668\">Thomas Massie<\/a>\u2018s (R-KY) reelection bid, during which Massie <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4558355\/massie-kentucky-house-primary-israel-spending\/\">criticized AIPAC<\/a>, pro-Israel groups, and billionaires for the record<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/05\/17\/massie-aipac-record-spending-israel-maga-trump-primary-00925375\"> cash infusion <\/a>in his race that ultimately helped his GOP challenger <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4575268\/kentucky-4th-congressional-district-primary-thomas-massie-ed-gallrein\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4575969\">Ed Gallrein<\/a> surge to victory. On the Democratic side of the AIPAC debate, in New Jersey, former Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4453155\/tom-malinowski-vows-oppose-candidate-endorsed-aipac\/\">vowed to oppose any candidate backed by AIPAC<\/a> after the group spent millions in attack ads against him and he lost his <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >special election primary<\/a> to liberal activist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4422517\/analilia-mejia-progressive-endorsements-new-jersey-special-election\/\">Analilia Mejia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"629\">Pennsylvania<\/a>, Democratic state Rep. Chris Rabb, a vocal critic of AIPAC and Israel, recently won the primary in the state\u2019s 3rd Congressional District. Rabb, now all but assured to win the general election in one of the bluest districts in the country, was endorsed by members of \u201cthe Squad\u201d and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DXdFA7MjC-T\/\">campaigned<\/a> with controversial left-wing streamer <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4517861\/democrats-squirm-left-embraces-streamer-hasan-piker\/\">Hasan Piker<\/a>, who has also been a vocal critic of Israel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shapiro did not address the AIPAC dynamics in the race in Pennsylvania\u2019s 3rd District directly and instead spoke broadly about the topic with the outlet. When <em>Politico\u2019s<\/em> Jonathan Martin asked Shapiro if he meant that the lines were being blurred between being against AIPAC and being against Jewish political donors as a whole, Shapiro answered in the affirmative.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think it does get blurred, because now what you are seeing is not \u2018AIPAC money,\u2019 or however it was termed, but you\u2019re getting the Jews who give to that candidate, who also support AIPAC. I think it\u2019s very dangerous in our system if you are trying to silence certain voices based on their race, based on their faith, based on their particular ideology,\u201d Shapiro said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He told the outlet that it was this \u201cweaponization\u201d of AIPAC\u2019s politics that is \u201ca danger for our system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you have people who are advocating for issues that they feel strongly about, and they are having their voices silenced, I think that\u2019s a problem in our system,\u201d Shapiro said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4573623\/josh-shapiro-stacy-garrity-pennsylvania-governor-showdown\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4573623\">JOSH SHAPIRO AND STACY GARRITY BRACE FOR BRUISING PENNSYLVANIA GUBERNATORIAL SHOWDOWN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shapiro, having never been in a federal election during his career, has not yet faced the conundrum of whether to accept AIPAC money or an endorsement. However, the Pennsylvania governor is seen as a top Democratic contender to run for president in 2028.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He largely did not talk about 2028 in the interview aired Wednesday, telling <em>Politico<\/em> that he is focused on his 2026 run for reelection as governor and helping Democrats in the midterm elections. Shapiro is facing state Treasurer Stacy Garrity in the 2026 gubernatorial election, and he leads in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/polls\/pennsylvania-governor-election-polls-2026.html\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/polls\/pennsylvania-governor-election-polls-2026.html\">recent polling<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gov. Shapiro says using anti-AIPAC sentiment \u201ccynically\u201d endangers system<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2607430,"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\/2026\/05\/AP26112586925925.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33006,37061,50646],"class_list":["post-2607429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-aipac","tag-josh-shapiro","tag-weaponization-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26112586925925.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607429","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\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2607429"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2607433,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607429\/revisions\/2607433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2607430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2607429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2607429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2607429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}