Pat Ryan Returns AIPAC PAC Funds After Backing Cut to $3.3 Billion Israel Aid

3 articles · Updated · Jewish Insider · Jul 17

Pat Ryan said he will return AIPAC PAC money and refund individual donors on request after voting with 102 other Democrats to end all U.S. aid to Israel.
In social media posts, the New York Democrat said he no longer wants AIPAC’s endorsement and would not support the $3.3 billion in annual military aid tied to what he called Netanyahu’s “corrupt and increasingly dangerous” government.
AIPAC called Ryan’s stance “unfortunate” and said it expects him to refund support from individual AIPAC members as well; Ryan’s campaign said the immediate repayment covers AIPAC PAC funds.
Ryan, a swing-district moderate from the Hudson Valley with a sizable Jewish constituency, said the vote was a “reset” aimed at pressuring Israel’s government while preserving support for Israel, condemning Hamas and backing a two-state solution.
The break underscores how opposition to Israel and to AIPAC has spread beyond the Democratic left in the aftermath of the Gaza war, even as Ryan was still listed as an AIPAC endorsee online with donations disabled.

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Jewish Insider1d ago

Pat Ryan to Refund AIPAC Donors After Voting to Cut US Aid to Israel

Reddit1d ago

Pat Ryan says he'll refund AIPAC donors who ask following vote to end U.S. aid to Israel : r/jewishpolitics

Washington Examiner1d ago

Pat Ryan pledges to refund AIPAC money. He could be out $790K

5 Sources

As Israel proposes ending US aid, is it seeking self-reliance or just less political oversight?

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Rep. Pat Ryan Returns AIPAC Donations After Voting to End Israel Aid: A Sign of the Democratic Party’s Dramatic Realignment

Overview

Rep. Pat Ryan’s decision to return campaign funds from AIPAC followed his vote to halt U.S. military aid to Israel, signaling a major shift in both his political stance and fundraising strategy. After his vote, AIPAC deactivated the donation option for his campaign, highlighting the immediate financial impact. This move reflects a broader trend within the Democratic Party, where growing support for ending military aid to Israel is challenging traditional alliances and funding sources. Ryan’s actions show how lawmakers are responding to changing voter attitudes, even at the risk of losing established support, and point to a new era of grassroots-driven campaigns.

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