Two years ago, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent millions of dollars through its super PAC to defeat two vocal critics of Israel, Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York.
“AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down,” Bush vowed in her concession speech.
Now AIPAC’s opponents believe that they are on the offensive – and a new group called American Priorities has a lot to do with it.
The super PAC, which started just six months ago, has quickly emerged as an influential force in House Democratic primaries, spending at least $5.6 million to boost Democrats who are fiercely critical of Israel, its war in Gaza and AIPAC’s influence in Democratic primaries. American Priorities helped two democratic socialists – Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez – pull off wins in the recent New York primaries and also chipped in to help a third, Melat Kiros, defeat Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette on Tuesday.
The group’s spending is still dwarfed by that of AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project, which has spent at least $34 million this election cycle. The two sides have not gone head-to-head in many primaries yet, picking their fights more pragmatically. But to progressives who had gotten used to being vastly outspent, American Priorities has become something of an unexpected savior.
