AIPAC pushes back after 2028 Democratic presidential hopefuls reject it

Leading lawmakers on the US left refuse any support from the pro-Israel lobby, reflecting increasing hostility to Israel and demonization of the group

By Luke Tress

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24 March 2026, 10:25 pm

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Luke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.

The US pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC on Tuesday pushed back after potential Democratic Party presidential candidates rejected the group.

Several leading Democrats who are viewed as potential candidates have explicitly rejected AIPAC, while others have remained mum about the group’s support, as AIPAC is battered by hostility from both the right and the left in US politics.

“AIPAC has never given to a presidential campaign,” the group said in a statement. “Millions of Democrats are AIPAC members who will support candidates that best reflect their values, including a strong US-Israel partnership.”

“Singling out and excluding millions of pro-Israel Democrats is wrong and undemocratic,” the statement said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes then White House Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emmanuel at the PM’s office in Jerusalem,on May 26 2010. (Ariel Jerozolimski/Flash 90)

The statement came in response to a report from Politico about leading Democratic legislators disavowing any support from AIPAC.

In this image provided by Senate Television, Sen, Cory Booker, Democrat-New Jersey speaks on the Senate floor, April 1, 2025. (Senate Television via AP)

The lawmakers who have rejected AIPAC include New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., speaks during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, said he has never taken or solicited support from AIPAC.

The Democrats’ rejection of the pro-Israel lobby reflects increasing hostility to the Jewish state on the American left.

Polls have shown that Americans are increasingly hostile to Israel. A survey last week found 39 percent of the US public has negative views toward Israel, compared to 32% with positive views, a stark shift compared to polling several years ago, particularly among Democrats and Independents.

Other prominent Democrats, such as former US vice president Kamala Harris, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, who is Jewish, did not respond to questions about AIPAC, Politico reported.

None of the potential 2028 Democratic Party candidates has embraced AIPAC.

Critics say the demonization of AIPAC is linked to age-old antisemitic tropes about Jewish wealth and Jews wielding outsize power in politics.

Despite the outsize focus, AIPAC is not among the top lobbying groups in the US, ranking 18th in contributions last year, 21st in outside spending, and 191st in lobbying, according to OpenSecrets.

In general spending, other countries, including China, Qatar, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, spend more than Israel lobbying in the US.