Israel-Gaza War Splits Democrats as $11 Million in Pro-Israel Spending Floods Midterm Primaries
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 12
Israel-Gaza War Splits Democrats as $11 Million in Pro-Israel Spending Floods Midterm Primaries
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 12
Summary
Michigan’s August 4 Senate primary has become a flashpoint, with progressive Abdul El-Sayed attacking AIPAC-linked money and moderate Haley Stevens insisting donors do not dictate her Israel stance.
About $11 million from AIPAC-affiliated United Democracy Project has already gone to boost Stevens or oppose El-Sayed, underscoring how Gaza and outside spending have merged into a single Democratic litmus test.
June AP polling shows the party’s shift: roughly half of Democrats say Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, and nearly 60% say the US is too supportive of Israel, up from 45% in January 2024.
That change is rippling beyond Michigan, with anti-war or openly pro-Palestinian candidates scoring wins in New York, Colorado and New Jersey, even as establishment candidates backed by pro-Israel groups still prevail elsewhere.
Democrats increasingly frame Gaza alongside affordability, authenticity and special-interest influence, suggesting the war’s political force now extends well beyond foreign policy into the party’s broader identity fight before November.
How will shifting US aid to Israel into opaque defense accounts impact public oversight and the long-standing alliance?
$200 Million at Stake: The 2026 Democratic Primaries, Israel-Gaza War, and the Collapse of the Pro-Israel Consensus
Overview
The 2026 midterm primaries mark a critical turning point for the Democratic Party, driven by intense internal conflict and a fundamental re-evaluation of its foreign policy. The Israel-Gaza war has become a deeply divisive issue, reshaping the political landscape for Democratic candidates and voters. This has led to unprecedented spending from pro-Israel groups and significant counter-mobilization from progressive challengers. As a result, high-stakes contests are unfolding that will define the party’s future direction, with a dramatic collapse of support for Israel in US public opinion fueling these internal battles and ideological shifts.